PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Shovel Knight (ranked 2690 p4p, 133 weight class) and Santana Blaze (ranked 3211 p4p, 0 weight class). Knight comes to the cage accompanied by X Gon' Give It To Ya. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Knight
vs
Blaze

170 cm
33
144 lbs
22 - 17 - 0

177 cm
37
138 lbs
17 - 11 - 2

Great wrestler
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

CAGED CROW Clothings 50$

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 22 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shovel Knight!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 11 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Santana Blaze!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Yukihiro Shimada and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Knight shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Knight trying to control the position from guard on top but Blaze is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blaze is trying to keep Knight in close.
Knight stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Blaze swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Blaze wants to stand up but Knight is controlling him.
Knight stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Blaze swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Knight looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blaze is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Blaze trying to keep a closed guard but Knight is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knight with a flurry of punches that miss.
Blaze keeping moving, preventing Knight from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Blaze checks a leg kick.
Blaze defending well as Knight loads up on a big left hand.
Knight looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Knight throws a low kick but Blaze moves out of range easily.
Knight swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Knight misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Knight dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Knight looks to land a left hand but Blaze moved out of range nicely.
Blaze checks a leg kick.
As Knight backs off Blaze throws a huge counter combo but Knight manages to avoid it all.
Blaze blocks a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blaze stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Knight finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Blaze pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Knight ducks under a wild hook from Blaze.
Knight fakes the leg kick and cracks Blaze in the body.
Knight thows a left - swing and a miss!

Blaze gets caught flat footed, as Knight shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Blaze can't keep his opponent in guard - Knight advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Blaze is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Knight scores with a couple of nice shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Knight wants to control but Blaze is keeping him busy.
Blaze is trying to get back to full guard.

Blaze manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Blaze avoids the body shot from Knight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knight connects with a body shot that sends Blaze's belly button to the back.
Blaze throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Knight drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Knight has a takedown stuffed.
Knight swings away with a body shot that misses
and Blaze counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Blaze throws an overhand right that lands on Knight's shoulder, as Knight tries to avoid the shot.
Knight closes this distance looking for a takedown but Blaze circles away.
Blaze only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Blaze looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Knight is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Blaze.
Blaze swinging wildly here.
A jab from Knight finds it's way through Blaze's defenses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knight pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Blaze throws a counter combo.
Knight wants to slow Blaze down by chopping away at his legs.
Blaze chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Knight can pounce on him.
Nice cross by Knight.
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 moves away from the strike by Knight.
Blaze throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Knight goes for a double leg but Blaze avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Blaze continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shovel Knight. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blaze blocks the body kick.
Knight looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Blaze is fending him off so far but Knight persists. Nope, Blaze circles away and we're back to standing.
Knight keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Knight blocks a jab.
Knight throws a head kick but Blaze moves out of range.
Knight throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Blaze stalks Knight and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Knight's face. Knight staggers backwards, shaken.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Shovel Knight will probably get the nod.
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.

Knight scores with a head kick. Blaze tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Blaze fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A looping hook to the body misses from Blaze. Knight does a little dance to reset his feet.
Knight fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Blaze manages to avoid it.
Jab by Knight.
Knight misses with a combination
and Blaze counters with a series of strikes. Knight will be more careful next time no doubt.
Knight has his takedown stuffed
and Blaze counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Knight takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Knight misses with an uppercut.
Shovel Knight seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Knight throws a left and a right that both miss
and Blaze counters with a nice uppercut.
Santana Blaze seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Knight throws a series of punches but Blaze moves out of range.
A swing and a miss from Knight.
Blaze throws out a counter right but Knight avoids it with no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blaze fails to land with a series of punches.
Knight tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Blaze manages to circle out of the way.
Blaze fails to land with a series of punches.
Knight fails with the takedown.
Blaze throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Knight sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Knight seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Blaze throws a shot from downtown. Knight moves away and avoids it.
Knight throws a solid leg kick but Blaze takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Knight.
Knight's jab looks to have found its range, popping Blaze under the eye.
Blaze dodges the punch combination from Knight.
Knight scores with a leg kick.
Blaze works the jab nicely.
Knight ducks under a wild hook from Blaze.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blaze is looking to slow Knight down with leg kicks.
Knight misses with an uppercut.
Knight misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shovel Knight. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blaze shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Knight eats them both and turns towards Blaze to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Knight shoots in and bounces Blaze off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Knight trying to control the position from guard on top but Blaze is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Knight stands and throws Blaze's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Knight is looking to take a break and control but Blaze is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Knight tries for a kimura but Blaze is defending well.
Blaze is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Blaze is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Blaze is being controlled here.
Blaze is not content to let Knight control the position.
Blaze sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Knight wants to free his trapped foot but Blaze is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Blaze wants to get back to his feet.
Knight seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Blaze does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Blaze really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Knight. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Knight is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blaze pushes Knight off looking to stand but Knight dives back in and keeps control.
Knight tries to pass the half guard into mount. Blaze knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Blaze moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Santana Blaze will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

An inside leg kick lands from Knight.
Knight swings widly with a right hand
and Blaze counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Knight doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Blaze throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Blaze takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Blaze scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Knight throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Blaze counters with a nice uppercut.
Knight is trying hard to land a takedown here. Blaze sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Nice takedown defense from Blaze. No joy for Knight on that attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knight misses with a body shot.
Knight looks to score with a jab to the body but Blaze is just out of range.
Knight takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Knight jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Blaze is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knight tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Blaze swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shovel Knight. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Knight misses with a takedown
and Blaze counters with a nice body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Knight lands with a nice body punch.
Blaze lands with a nice body punch.
Blaze looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Shovel Knight is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A low kick from Knight misses
and Blaze counters with a left and a right that stings Knight.
A punch combination from Knight misses.
Knight throws a leg kick that misses.
A combination from Blaze does no damage.
Knight 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.
Blaze lands a nice shot that snaps Knight's head back.
Blaze tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Knight is able to avoid easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Blaze ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Blaze misses with a hook. Knight ducked under it nicely.
An attempted straight right counter from Knight misses the target.
Blaze has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Blaze on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Blaze thuds a left hand into Knight's body.
Knight throws a looping overhand right but Blaze ducks down to avoid it.
Knight staying out of range there.
Blaze looks to throw the jab but Knight is out of range.
Knight keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Blaze.
Knight misses with a hook
and Blaze counters with a series of strikes. Knight will be more careful next time no doubt.
Knight throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Blaze's waist but Blaze gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Knight off to one side.
A telegraphed right hand from Knight misses the target.
Knight throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Blaze lands an overhand right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Blaze.
No joy there for Blaze, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Good leg kick by Blaze there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Blaze misses with a two punch combination.
Knight tests Blaze's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Knight misses with a hook. Blaze ducked under it nicely.
Knight fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Knight looks to land a combination but Blaze avoids it well.
As Knight backs off Blaze throws a huge counter combo but Knight manages to avoid it all.
Knight takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Blaze fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Blaze has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Knight walks into a left hand.
Knight is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Blaze.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blaze swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Knight tries to counter by clinching up but Blaze breaks away and moves out of range.
Blaze jabbing away but nothing is landing.
As Blaze tries to get set, Knight tries to push him back and clinch up but Blaze manages to avoid the attempt.
Blaze throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Knight just misses with a punch to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Knight rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Blaze counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Good shot there by Blaze.
Knight fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Blaze manages to avoid it.
Blaze scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Knight is rocked!
Santana Blaze is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Knight looks up at the clock. Bad move! Blaze lands a right hand from hell, dropping Knight. Blaze pounces and finishes the fight with a flurry of punches and elbows.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:44 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Santana Blaze!
During a confident post fight interview, Santana Blaze thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.