PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Blaze (ranked 5101 p4p, 0 weight class) and Al Babigan (ranked 6145 p4p, 0 weight class). Al Babigan told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Blaze
vs
Babigan

165 cm
22
162 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

165 cm
18
156 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Johnny Blaze!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Al Babigan!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Santiago Holmes and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Blaze moves into the clinch.
Blaze changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Babigan fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Blaze gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Blaze pulls guard successfully.
Blaze wants to stand and escape but Babigan is having none of it.
Babigan 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.
Babigan trying to control the position from guard on top but Blaze is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Babigan postures up in Blaze's guard and throws a big left but Blaze blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Blaze has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Babigan off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Blaze closes this distance looking for a takedown but Babigan circles away.

Blaze closes the distance and pushes Babigan back into the cage.

Blaze breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Babigan!

It looks like Johnny Blaze has been cut.
Babigan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Blaze dives in for a single leg takedown but Babigan sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnny Blaze. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Blaze moves into the clinch successfully.
Blaze leaning against his opponent.

Blaze pulls guard effortlessly.
Blaze is looking to stand up but Babigan isn't so interested in that idea.
Blaze seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blaze has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Blaze wants to sweep but no luck.
Blaze definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Babigan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Blaze is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Babigan misses with a wild combination.
Blaze is looking to counter the offense by Babigan and move into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babigan tries to land a leg kick but Blaze saw it coming and moves away.
Babigan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Blaze moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Babigan lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Babigan avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Blaze takes the fight into the clinch.
Blaze lands a right hand.

Blaze has clasped his hands together around Babigan's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Blaze misses with the ground and pound.

Blaze decides to stand up, so the ref orders Babigan to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Babigan swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Blaze counters by moving into the clinch.
Blaze unloads a knee to the mid-section. Babigan lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Babigan looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blaze avoiding damage.
Blaze jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Babigan walks away with a smile on his face. Blaze gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Babigan lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Babigan throws a body shot but no joy.

Blaze has closed the distance and engaged Babigan in a clinch.
Blaze digs a right hand into Babigan's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Babigan's gas tank.
Babigan avoiding damage as Blaze throws knees to the body.
Blaze tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Babigan wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Blaze has him pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Blaze dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Johnny Blaze's cut.
That's time! Blaze's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Blaze takes a swing at Babigan's ribcage but misses.
Babigan misses with a wild combination.
As Babigan tries to get set, Blaze tries to push him back and clinch up but Babigan manages to avoid the attempt.
Blaze misses with a wild combination.
Al Babigan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Babigan misses with a few strikes there.
Blaze wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Babigan works Blaze's body with a nice hook.

Blaze moves into range and clinches up with Babigan.
Blaze tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Blaze lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Babigan or not.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blaze lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
A quick uppercut on the inside from Blaze.
A short right from Blaze.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Blaze ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Blaze no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Blaze looking for a sweep. Not yet Blaze, not yet.

Blaze manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Blaze has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Babigan after a bit of a struggle.
Blaze drops down looking for an ankle pick but Babigan pulls his leg out and moves away.
Babigan scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Babigan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Blaze manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blaze dodges the punch combination from Babigan.
Babigan misses with the combination.
Babigan is breathing heavily.

Blaze instigates a clinch.
Blaze drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnny Blaze. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blaze is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Babigan pulls him back up using the underhooks.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Blaze manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Blaze has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Babigan has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Blaze with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Babigan wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Blaze displaying some good clinch control by pressing Babigan up against the cage.
Blaze is looking for a takedown.
Babigan tries to break free but Blaze pushes him back against the cage.

Blaze pulls guard successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Blaze uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Babigan lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Blaze gets a clinch.
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 pulls guard effortlessly.

Blaze manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Babigan pushes Blaze up against the cage in a clinch.
Blaze lands a hook to the side of the head.
Babigan wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Blaze is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Babigan can do to turn this around?
Blaze is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Babigan is defending well for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Blaze dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Johnny Blaze's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Blaze looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Babigan wants to get back to his feet but Blaze passes into half guard.
Blaze throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Blaze trying to control the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Blaze escapes and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babigan swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Blaze clinches up with Babigan and pushes him back against the cage.
Blaze stalling against the cage.
Knees to the body from Blaze.

Blaze breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Babigan swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Blaze counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Blaze.
Babigan can't break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blaze landing knees to the head.
Blaze is pushing Babigan up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Blaze lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Blaze landing knees to the body.
Babigan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Blaze is looking to take this one to the mat.
Blaze is looking for a takedown.
Blaze is trying to pull guard but Babigan turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnny Blaze. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Blaze pulls guard successfully.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Blaze holds on and takes a little breather.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blaze bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Babigan's guard.

Blaze is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

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

Blaze instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blaze tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Babigan avoids it.
Babigan tries to break the clinch but Blaze is controlling the position.
Blaze tries to score a body lock takedown but Babigan shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Blaze pulls guard.

Blaze pushes Babigan off and gets back to his feet.

Blaze closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Blaze trying to control the pace.
Al Babigan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johnny Blaze is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Blaze showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Blaze, 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Blaze!
In his post fight interview, Johnny Blaze started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.