PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ben Lynch (ranked 5484 p4p, 0 weight class) and Captain Blackbeard (ranked 24823 p4p, 0 weight class). Captain Blackbeard has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Lynch
vs
Blackbeard

213 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
208 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ben Lynch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Captain Blackbeard!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A low kick from Blackbeard misses

and Lynch holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Lynch has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Blackbeard uses from the top position.
Blackbeard slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Blackbeard pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lynch is keeping the position for now.
Lynch seems keen to control Blackbeard's posture.
Blackbeard slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Lynch has Blackbeard pulled in close to control his posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lynch trying to control the position.
Lynch looking for a sweep. Not yet Lynch, not yet.
Blackbeard postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackbeard throwing strikes but missing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blackbeard wants to pass the guard but Lynch is keeping the position.
Lynch controls Blackbeard momentarily but Blackbeard frees himself.
Lynch really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Blackbeard scoring with some ground and pound.
Blackbeard slips nicely into half guard.
Lynch wants to control but Blackbeard is keeping busy.
Lynch moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Lynch is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lynch wants to sweep here but Blackbeard controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lynch is controlling Blackbeard's posture.
Lynch keeping full guard, as Blackbeard tries to pass.
Lynch is trying to hold Blackbeard in close to prevent damage but Blackbeard has managed to pass into half guard.
Blackbeard slows the pace down in half guard.
Lynch works his way to full guard. Good work.
Lynch is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Blackbeard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lynch swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Blackbeard got a little sloppy there for a moment and Lynch has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Blackbeard has managed to get both his arms back between Lynch's legs - danger averted.
Lynch being controlled here, momentarily.
Blackbeard wants to get up but he can't break Lynch's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Lynch 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.
Blackbeard tries to free his leg and advance position but Lynch is retaining full guard.
Blackbeard looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Lynch will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Blackbeard wants to pass the guard but Lynch is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Blackbeard trying to control but Lynch is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Blackbeard rushes Lynch and presses him up against the cage.

Blackbeard jumps guard and drags Lynch to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Blackbeard looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Lynch passes into half guard.
Still in half guard, Lynch seems content to control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Blackbeard avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Lynch.
Lynch thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Captain Blackbeard dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Blackbeard is defended easily by Lynch.
As Blackbeard tries to get set, Lynch tries to push him back and clinch up but Blackbeard manages to avoid the attempt.
Blackbeard misses the jab.
Lynch is looking to clinch but Blackbeard is avoiding it.
Blackbeard defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Lynch.
Blackbeard misses with a right hand
and Lynch counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Blackbeard thinking.

Blackbeard gets in close and instigates a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lynch tries to pull guard but Blackbeard forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Blackbeard has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Lynch is trying to keep an underhook but Blackbeard manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Lynch is looking to control Blackbeard's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Lynch avoid being mounted?
Lynch is controlling Blackbeard's position as best he can from this difficult position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lynch is looking to improve his position.
Lynch moves into full guard.
Lynch wants to sweep but no luck.
Blackbeard looking to pass the guard.
Blackbeard seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Blackbeard is continuing to stall.
Blackbeard stopping the sweep attempt from Lynch.

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.
Blackbeard trying to control but Lynch is working from the bottom.
Lynch keeping full guard, as Blackbeard tries to pass.
Lynch tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Blackbeard must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Blackbeard is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Lynch keeping moving, preventing Blackbeard from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Blackbeard has managed to clinch.

Blackbeard manages to break the clinch.

Blackbeard fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Lynch sprawls well initially but Blackbeard persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Blackbeard is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Lynch sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lynch trying to control here.
Blackbeard really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lynch. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Lynch moves into full guard.
Lynch tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Blackbeard wants to get up but he can't break Lynch's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Lynch is trying to control the position but Blackbeard postures up.
Lynch looking for a sweep. Not yet Lynch, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blackbeard would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Lynch trying to keep a closed guard but Blackbeard is proving a slippery customer.
Blackbeard wants to stand but Lynch is controlling his posture from full guard.

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

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.

Blackbeard moves into the clinch.

Blackbeard escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Captain Blackbeard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Blackbeard has taken the fight to the clinch.
Lynch is trying to pull guard but Blackbeard turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Lynch. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blackbeard has had enough of the clinch but Lynch keeps him there for the moment.
Blackbeard gets underhooks to prevent Lynch's takedown attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lynch has Blackbeard pressed against the cage, preventing Blackbeard from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Blackbeard pushes Lynch back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Captain Blackbeard 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!

Blackbeard shoots in and bounces Lynch off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Blackbeard slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Lynch seems keen to control Blackbeard's posture.
Lynch is trying to keep Blackbeard in close.
Blackbeard scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blackbeard trying to control the position from guard on top but Lynch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lynch keeping full guard, as Blackbeard tries to pass.
Lynch will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lynch looking for a sweep. Not yet Lynch, not yet.

Lynch escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Blackbeard gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Blackbeard lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Lynch is rocked!
Blackbeard seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Blackbeard stopping the sweep attempt from Lynch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Blackbeard sitting in guard here, content to control.
Lynch trying to control the position.
Blackbeard showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

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.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Blackbeard misses with a body kick.

Blackbeard takes the fight into the clinch.

Blackbeard jumps guard.
Blackbeard 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.
Lynch is working Blackbeard over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blackbeard looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Blackbeard trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Blackbeard isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Lynch stacks Blackbeard on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Lynch!
Lynch wants to control but Blackbeard is keeping him busy.
You can see the frustration on Blackbeard's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Blackbeard looking for a sweep but Lynch has passed into full mount! Oh no!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Lynch landing strikes from the mount and Blackbeard is in trouble!
Blackbeard is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Poor strikes thrown by Lynch there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Blackbeard is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Lynch lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lynch throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Captain Blackbeard.
Well Blackbeard 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Captain Blackbeard!