PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jess Blanchard (ranked 8670 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Reese (ranked 7013 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Blanchard
vs
Reese

170 cm
18
193 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
195 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jess Blanchard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Reese!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, George Francis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Reese uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Blanchard.
Reese doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

Blanchard looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Reese!

Reese throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Reese leaves Blanchard with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Blanchard looks for a takedown but Reese sprawls well.

Reese pushes Blanchard up against the cage in a clinch.

Reese's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Reese. Blanchard shrugs it off though.
Reese will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Reese jabs at Blanchard's body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reese shoots for a takedown but Blanchard saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Reese dives in for a single leg takedown but Blanchard sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Jess Blanchard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Reese.
No luck for Blanchard with that takedown attempt.

Reese darts in and clinches Blanchard up against the cage.

Reese breaks from the clinch.

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

Reese wriggles free and stands up.
Blanchard is breathing heavily.

Reese moves into the clinch successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Reese pulls guard successfully.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Reese looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Blanchard got a little sloppy there for a moment and Reese has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Blanchard has managed to get both his arms back between Reese's legs - danger averted.
Reese managing to control the position.
Blanchard throws a big right hand that misses.
Reese is adopting a defensive guard.
Blanchard could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Reese keeping moving, preventing Blanchard from controlling successfully.
Blanchard scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reese wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Blanchard got a little sloppy there for a moment and Reese has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Blanchard has managed to get both his arms back between Reese's legs - danger averted.
Blanchard working some strikes from top position.
Blanchard wants to stand but Reese has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Blanchard has gone for a leg lock! Reese slips out almost immediately though and dives into Blanchard's guard.

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

Reese got a little sloppy there for a moment and Blanchard has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Reese has managed to get both his arms back between Blanchard's legs - danger averted.

Reese avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reese wants to control from the top but Blanchard keeps moving.
Reese controls from within his opponent's guard.
Blanchard keeping moving, preventing Reese from controlling successfully.
Blanchard working a defensive guard here.
Blanchard keeping moving, preventing Reese from controlling successfully.
Reese might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Blanchard haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Reese dominated that round.
That's time! Blanchard's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Reese fails with the takedown.
Reese throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Reese moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Blanchard misses the jab.

Reese closes the distance and clinches.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blanchard is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Reese to keep the fight standing.
Blanchard jumps guard but Reese stands there with Blanchard around his waist. Blanchard gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Reese has Blanchard pressed against the cage, preventing Blanchard from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blanchard is trying to pull guard but Reese turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jess Blanchard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blanchard is trying to break the clinch but Reese is controlling him.

Reese pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Reese gets a takedown into half guard.
Blanchard taking some punishment here, with Reese in his half guard.
Reese looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Blanchard tries to kick Reese off but Reese keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Blanchard is holding on to half guard well.
Blanchard regains full guard. Nicely done.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Reese controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Reese gets to his feet. Blanchard looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reese tries for a takedown but Blanchard sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Reese misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Blanchard tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Reese just stands there and leans against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Reese.
Reese prevents Blanchard from breaking the clinch.
Blanchard is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Reese to keep the fight standing.

Reese successfully pulls guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Reese trying to keep a closed guard but Blanchard is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blanchard is looking to stand up but Reese won't let him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Reese is looking for a triangle but Blanchard pushes his legs off easily.
Blanchard being controlled here momentarily.
Blanchard trying to stand up but can't free himself from Reese's guard.
Blanchard has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Reese is trying to keep Blanchard in close.
Blanchard sitting in guard here, content to control.

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.
Reese is trying to control the position but Blanchard postures up.
Blanchard won't allow Reese to sweep him here.
Blanchard is looking to stand up but Reese won't let him.
Reese is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Blanchard slaps away a takedown attempt from Reese, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Horrible takedown attempt by Reese or perhaps it was just good defense by Blanchard, which made it look bad.
Blanchard swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Blanchard tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Reese counters with a nice body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Reese showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Blanchard shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Reese as he avoids it easily.

Reese has Blanchard up against the cage in a clinch.

Reese pulls guard successfully.

Reese is looking for a triangle but Blanchard pushes his legs off easily.

Reese is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Blanchard would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blanchard trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Reese is looking to sweep but instead, Blanchard has passed into half guard.
Reese is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blanchard wants to stand up but Reese manages to regain full guard.
Blanchard sitting in guard here, content to control.
Reese seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Reese has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Reese has a closed guard, preventing Blanchard from standing up.
Reese has control of Blanchard's left arm, preventing Blanchard from doing any damage.
Blanchard trying to control but Reese is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Reese looking for a sweep. Not yet Reese, not yet.

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.

Reese is working an open guard so Blanchard takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Reese is looking to slow Blanchard down with leg kicks.

Reese rushes Blanchard and presses him up against the cage.
Blanchard is looking to control Reese's arms but Reese gets an underhook and turns him. Now Blanchard has his back to the cage.

Blanchard pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Reese fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Blanchard dives in for a single leg takedown but Reese sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Reese! But no joy.

Reese closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Blanchard is trying to control Reese's posture but Reese avoids it.
Blanchard is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blanchard is trying to control Reese's posture but Reese avoids it.
Reese misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Reese creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Blanchard sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Blanchard is trying to control Reese's posture but Reese avoids it.
Reese throws an elbow but Blanchard slips to the side and avoids it well.
Reese moves into full mount!
Blanchard is squirming around, avoiding Reese's attempts to control the action.
Blanchard sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Reese in particular looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blanchard missing with punches from the bottom.
Blanchard trying to control from the bottom.
Reese thows a huge punch but Blanchard dodges it nicely.
Blanchard controlling the position for now.
Reese is controlling the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Reese is keen to just control but Blanchard is a slippery customer.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Reese comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Reese 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Reese!