PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Minh Puckett (ranked 8921 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommy Blake (ranked 9544 p4p, 0 weight class). Tommy Blake will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Puckett
vs
Blake

161 cm
22
177 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

188 cm
18
179 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Minh Puckett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tommy Blake!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Ivan Kurochkin and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
That kick from Puckett tenderised Blake's leg. Blake is trying to keep his angry face on.
Puckett throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Puckett instigates a clinch.
Puckett could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Puckett gets control of Blake's arms and successfully pulls guard. Puckett will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Puckett escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Blake gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Blake postures up.
Puckett can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Blake controls the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blake throws a big right hand that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blake wants to stand but Puckett is controlling his posture from full guard.
Blake working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Puckett's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puckett trying to control the position.
Blake scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Blake showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Blake's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Blake keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Puckett's head.
Puckett might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Puckett is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Blake would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Blake slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Puckett throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Puckett is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

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

Blake closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Puckett quickly recovers to half guard.
Puckett is looking to escape.
Blake with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Puckett is doing well to control the position and prevent Blake from advancing to side control.
Puckett wants to improve his position but Blake is controlling well.
Puckett trying to control but Blake postures up.
Puckett wants to get back to full guard.
We've been informed that Blake has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Puckett is trying to control but can't.

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

Blake closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Puckett is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Puckett can't do much from the bottom here.
Puckett tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Blake scores with punches from side control.
Blake wants to stand but Puckett is controlling his arm.

Blake decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Tommy Blake seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Blake shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Puckett's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Blake controlling from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Puckett wants to get back to his feet but Blake is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Blake dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Blake avoids the head kick by Puckett.

Blake decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Blake trying to pass the guard but Puckett defending well.
Puckett is trying to stand back up but Blake is controlling him
Well, if Blake is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Puckett trying to hold on to Blake's head to control him but Blake postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Puckett trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Puckett is looking to improve his position but Blake isn't that keen on the idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Blake working for a guillotine from mount but Puckett is in no mood to give up.
Blake looking to control and managing it successfully.
Puckett tries to lock up and control but Blake gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Puckett bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Puckett won't allow Blake to sweep him here.
Blake has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Blake escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Puckett gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Blake controls Puckett momentarily but Puckett frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Puckett accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Puckett throws an elbow that misses. Blake uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Puckett's guard. Nice move by Blake!

Puckett wants to hit a switch here but Blake passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Puckett there!
Puckett is trying to escape the mount.
Blake controlling the pace for now.
Puckett is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blake in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Puckett takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Blake sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Puckett defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Blake.
Blake tries to push Puckett's head away but Puckett is holding on tight.
Blake lands a nice shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blake with good strikes from the mount here!
Blake controlling from mount.
Blake prevents Puckett from getting the reversal.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Blake with good strikes from the mount here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Blake looking to control and managing it successfully.
Puckett is desperately trying to improve his position but Blake has a good base and remains in mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Blake showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Blake closes the distance and clinches.

Puckett lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Blake blocking the ground and pound attempt from Puckett.
Puckett stops Blake from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are battling for position here. Blake manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Puckett trying to control but Blake is working from the bottom.
Blake is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Puckett has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Puckett throws a big right hand that misses.

Puckett drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Blake manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Puckett has Blake in his guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Puckett is trying to control the position but Blake postures up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blake sitting in guard here, content to control.
Puckett has momentary wrist control but Blake slips an elbow through the middle.
Blake wanted to stand there but Puckett had control of the position.
Blake is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Blake stands up over Puckett, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Puckett can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Blake controls the pace.
Puckett is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

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.

Blake avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Blake's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Blake misses with a head kick.
Blake falls off balance throwing a combination
and Puckett counters with a stiff right hand.
Blake showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Puckett.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Puckett drives through with a takedown into Blake's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Blake can do anything to dispel that myth.
Puckett throwing strikes but missing.
Blake pulls Puckett in close to prevent any damage.
Puckett preventing the sweep.
Puckett trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Blake pulls Puckett in close to prevent any damage.
Blake avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blake utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Puckett won't allow Blake to get back to his feet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Blake decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Puckett pushes Blake off but Blake dives into side control.
Puckett is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Blake asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Blake working the head and body with strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Puckett tries to improve position but can't.
Puckett is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Minh Puckett has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tommy Blake is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Blake content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tommy Blake.
I've got Blake winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tommy Blake!