PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joey Karate (ranked 1487 p4p, 77 weight class) and Santana Blaze (ranked 1097 p4p, 51 weight class). Karate's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Shot Em'. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Karate
vs
Blaze

180 cm
26
139 lbs
12 - 4 - 1

177 cm
38
138 lbs
21 - 14 - 2

Decent wrestler
Great elbows
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 12 - 4 - 1, fighting out of New York, Joey Karate!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 14 - 2, fighting out of New York, Santana Blaze!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Bruno Lombardi and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab lands there for Blaze.
Karate on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Karate has taken the fight to the clinch.
Karate throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Blaze lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Blaze is trying to break free.
Karate has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Karate lands an elbow that stopped Blaze in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Santana Blaze has been cut.
Blaze is looking to break free of the clinch but Karate has double underhooks.
Blaze doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Blaze is looking to break free of the clinch but Karate has double underhooks.
Blaze has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Karate misses with the head strike.
Blaze blocking some punches.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Blaze is trying to break free.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karate looking to slow down the pace here.
Blaze has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Karate tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Blaze can't break the clinch.

Blaze's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karate throws a hook to the side of Blaze's head but Blaze sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Karate closes the distance and pushes Blaze back into the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Karate just misses with a elbow thrown towards Blaze's brow.
Karate fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Karate really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Blaze breaks the clinch.
Blaze is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Karate.
Karate takes one to the chin there.
The fighters circle momentarily. Blaze darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
A punch lands to the side of Blaze 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Karate closes the distance and clinches.
Blaze blocks an uppercut.
Karate stalling.

Blaze manages to break the clinch.
Karate is looking to clinch but Blaze is avoiding it.
Blaze lands a jab-cross combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Karate takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Karate closes the distance but Blaze moves to the side
and Blaze counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karate swings widly with a right hand
letting Blaze counter with a right hand.
Joey Karate seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Karate lands a nice shot that snaps Blaze's head back.
Karate misses with an uppercut
and Blaze cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Blaze lands with a straight right. Karate didn't see that one coming.
Karate misses with a hook
and Blaze counters with a stiff right hand.
Blaze is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Karate had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Blaze throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Karate.
Karate misses with the body kick
and Blaze counters with a right hand to the body.
Karate moves in looking to clinch but Blaze pushes him off.
Blaze takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Karate ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Blaze scores with a nice head shot.
Blaze tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Karate throws an overhand right that lands on Blaze's shoulder, as Blaze tries to avoid the shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blaze takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Karate tests Blaze's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Good leg kick by Karate there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Blaze slips a jab from Karate.
Blaze misses with a looping right.
Karate misses with a hook
and Blaze counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Left hook, right uppercut from Blaze.
Blaze scores with a three punch combo!
Blaze scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Karate doesn't seem bothered though.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Karate misses the jab.
As Karate backs off Blaze throws a huge counter combo but Karate manages to avoid it all.
Karate is looking to clinch but Blaze is avoiding it.
Blaze swings for the body but Karate moves out of range.
Karate misses the jab.
A combination from Blaze does no damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Karate 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Karate slips a jab and a cross from Blaze.
Blaze throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Karate fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Blaze on the side of the head.
The fighters circling - Karate throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Blaze lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Karate tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Karate takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Karate misses with an uppercut.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Karate misses with a looping left.
Blaze throws a counter combo.
Karate looks to land a left hand but Blaze moved out of range nicely.
Karate misses with a hook. Blaze ducked under it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Santana Blaze dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Santana Blaze's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Karate avoids a punch combination nicely.
Blaze dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Karate on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Karate throws a shot from downtown. Blaze moves away and avoids it.
Karate doesn't manage to clinch there - Blaze circles away.
Karate throws a body shot but no joy.
Blaze tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Karate was well out of range. Poor timing from Blaze.
Karate tries to clinch up but Blaze circles away and keeps his distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blaze throws a hook but Karate blocks it.
Blaze scores with a nice strike.
Karate throws a leg kick that is checked
and Blaze counters with a two punch combo.
Blaze throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Karate throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Blaze does it's job there.

Karate moves into the clinch.

Blaze breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Karate sizes up Blaze with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Blaze throws a series of punches but Karate avoids them all with ease.
Karate tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Karate avoids a punch combination nicely.
Karate was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Karate on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Blaze. Blaze obviously looking to wear him down.
Blaze fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Karate on the side of the head.
Karate throws the left hand but Blaze avoids the punch easily.
Karate is looking to land body kicks.
Jab from Karate.
Santana Blaze seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blaze lands a two punch combo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Blaze lands a jab.
Blaze throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A nice combination there by Blaze.
Karate throws a hook but Blaze avoids it easily.
Blaze looks to land a combination but Karate avoids it well.
Karate changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Karate lands with a right hand.
Blaze avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Karate tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Blaze manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Karate looks to throw the jab but Blaze is out of range.
Blaze digs a good body shot into Karate's ribs.
Blaze lands with a straight right. Karate didn't see that one coming.
Karate throws a lazy uppercut
and Blaze counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Karate throws a big shot that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karate doesn't manage to clinch there - Blaze circles away.
Blaze works over Karate's head and body with a nice combination.
Blaze swats away the attempt to clinch by Karate.
Blaze's jab looks to have found its range, popping Karate under the eye.
Blaze throws a jab but it's blocked by Karate.
Blaze lands a right hook to the body.
Karate has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Blaze.
Karate looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Karate swings widly with a right hand
and Blaze counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Santana Blaze is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Karate rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Blaze counter with a right hand.
Karate throws a poor cross that misses
and Blaze counters with a one-two to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Karate is looking to score with low kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blaze fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Blaze defending well as Karate loads up on a big left hand.
As Karate backs off Blaze throws a huge counter combo but Karate manages to avoid it all.
Blaze scores with a three punch combo!
Blaze uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Karate.
Karate moves in looking to clinch but Blaze pushes him off.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Blaze! But no joy.
The fighters circling - Karate throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Karate is looking to clinch.
Blaze misses with the combination.

Karate moves into the clinch successfully.

Blaze breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice shot lands for Karate.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Karate tries to clinch up
and Karate takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Santana Blaze showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Santana Blaze's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Karate takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Karate takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Blaze has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Blaze pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Karate back to the cage. Blaze follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Blaze throws a hook but Karate avoids it easily.
Blaze's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Blaze duly obliges.
Sloppy strikes from Blaze. Those never looked like landing.
Karate lands a lovely overhand right.
Karate darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Blaze is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Blaze throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Karate stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Blaze is still on wobbly legs! Can Karate finish him?
Decent striking displayed by Blaze there.
A punch lands to the side of Karate 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Blaze seems to have recovered his senses.
Karate throws a right hand that misses
and Blaze counters with a stiff right hand.
Karate on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A low kick from Karate misses
and Blaze counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Blaze scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karate has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Karate there as he acknowledges the shot.
A jab from Blaze misses.
Karate throws a right hand that misses
and Blaze counters with a one-two to the body.
Blaze lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Blaze moves out of range as Karate strikes.
A nice combination there by Blaze.
Karate throws a head kick that misses
and Blaze counters with a nice uppercut.
Blaze defending well as Karate loads up on a big left hand.
Karate is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Blaze.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A slow jab from Karate misses its intended target.
Karate throws a looping overhand right but Blaze ducks down to avoid it.
Karate takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Karate scores with a jab.
Joey Karate has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blaze misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Karate feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Blaze throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Karate swings widly with a right hand
and Blaze counters with an inside leg kick.
Blaze misses with a two punch combination.
Blaze blocks a head kick by Karate.
Blaze looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Karate throws a poor cross that misses
and Blaze counters with a two punch combo.
An inside leg kick lands from Blaze.
Karate ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Blaze moves away.
Karate tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Blaze paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Karate avoids a punch combination nicely.
Blaze pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Karate swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Karate.
Blaze connects with a looping right hand.
Karate moves out of range as Blaze strikes.
Blaze tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Karate doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Karate pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A jab lands there for Blaze.
Blaze misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A chopping leg kick lands by Blaze.
Karate tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Blaze manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Blaze let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Karate catches Blaze with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Karate takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Blaze tries to bum rush Karate with a series of wild strikes but Karate uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blaze avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Blaze lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Karate backs up against the cage.
Karate lands with an uppercut that bounces Blaze off the cage and back into range.
A telegraphed right hand from Blaze misses the target.
Karate wants to clinch.
Karate tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Blaze counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Blaze tries to keep at a distance but Karate has taken the fight into the clinch.
Karate has a couple of punches blocked by Blaze.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Blaze as Karate tries to tie him up.
Blaze doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Santana Blaze comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Blaze 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... 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.