PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Emiliano Blackburn (ranked 2819 p4p, 288 weight class) and Charles Manson (ranked 1696 p4p, 195 weight class). Emiliano Blackburn has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Blackburn
vs
Manson

168 cm
20
135 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

157 cm
20
140 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Core Combat
Urban Fighter

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Emiliano Blackburn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Charles Manson!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Richard Clark and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manson dives in for a single leg takedown but Blackburn sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Blackburn is looking to counter punch.
Manson dives in for a single leg takedown but Blackburn sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Blackburn is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Manson.
Manson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Manson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Blackburn counters with a stiff right hand.
Blackburn seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Emiliano Blackburn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Charles Manson.
Manson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Manson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Charles Manson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No joy there for Manson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackburn stuffs the takedown attempt from Manson. Manson gets slowly back to his feet.
Manson shoots in for a takedown but Blackburn shows good takedown defense.
Blackburn is looking to counter punch.
Manson shoots in looking for a takedown. Blackburn tries to sprawl out of it but Manson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Blackburn manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Blackburn swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Manson shoots in looking for a takedown but Blackburn manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Manson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Manson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
As Manson tries to get set, Blackburn tries to push him back and clinch up but Manson manages to avoid the attempt.
Manson shoots in for a double leg but Blackburn sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn slips a jab and a cross from Manson.
Blackburn slaps away a takedown attempt from Manson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Blackburn swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Manson tries for a takedown but Blackburn circles away easily
and Manson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Manson misses with a takedown attempt
and Blackburn counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Manson shoots for a takedown but Blackburn saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Blackburn throwing a counter right hand but Manson manages to avoid it.
Manson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Blackburn swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Blackburn is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Manson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Blackburn's waist but Blackburn gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Manson off to one side.
Blackburn was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Manson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Blackburn as he jumps to the side.
Blackburn throwing a counter right hand but Manson manages to avoid it.
Manson shoots in but no luck this time.
Manson throws a sloppy head kick and Blackburn moves out of range easily.
Manson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Blackburn's waist but Blackburn gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Manson off to one side.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Manson.
Blackburn throwing a counter right hand but Manson manages to avoid it.
Manson looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Blackburn. No joy for Manson on that attempt.
Blackburn swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Manson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Blackburn but Blackburn pushes him off and we're back to square one.
An attempted straight right counter from Blackburn misses the target.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Manson.
Blackburn throwing a counter right hand but Manson manages to avoid it.
Manson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Blackburn defends well and Manson ends up having to push Blackburn into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Manson darts in looking for a takedown but Blackburn gets double underhooks and turns Manson into the cage.
Blackburn throwing a counter right hand but Manson manages to avoid it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Blackburn avoids a kick to the body.
Blackburn was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Manson has his takedown stuffed
and Blackburn cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emiliano Blackburn 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.

Manson throws a sloppy head kick and Blackburn moves out of range easily.
Manson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Blackburn defends it nicely.
Blackburn was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Manson shoots in looking for a takedown but Blackburn manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Manson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
An attempted straight right counter from Blackburn misses the target.
Manson with a poor takedown
and Blackburn counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Emiliano Blackburn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Charles Manson.
Blackburn stuffs the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Blackburn sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Manson throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
letting Blackburn counter with a right hand.
Manson is breathing heavily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Manson.
Blackburn is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manson shoots in but Blackburn avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Manson shoots in looking for a takedown. Blackburn tries to sprawl out of it but Manson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Blackburn manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Manson looks for a takedown but Blackburn sprawls well.
Manson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Blackburn but Blackburn pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Blackburn throwing a counter right hand but Manson manages to avoid it.

That's two 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.
Manson misses with a takedown attempt - Blackburn sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Blackburn swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Manson looks for a takedown but Blackburn sprawls well.
Manson shoots and misses
and Blackburn counters with a stiff right hand.

Manson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Manson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Blackburn tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Manson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Manson tries for a kimura but Blackburn is defending well.
Blackburn tries to buck Manson off but Manson is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blackburn gets back to half guard.
Blackburn has his hands clasped together around Manson's back. He's all about the action.
Blackburn works his way to full guard. Good work.
Blackburn is pulling down on Manson's head. It's preventing any offense from Manson, at least for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Manson preventing the sweep.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Blackburn holds on and takes a little breather.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Manson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Blackburn looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Blackburn is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Manson can do to turn this around?
Manson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Blackburn swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Blackburn wants to sweep here but Manson controlling him for the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Blackburn has his hands on Manson's head, controlling the position.
Blackburn looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emiliano Blackburn dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Manson shoots in but no luck this time.
Manson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Blackburn circles away.
A little feinted left hand from Blackburn on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Manson darts in looking for a takedown but Blackburn gets double underhooks and turns Manson into the cage.
An attempted straight right counter from Blackburn misses the target.
Emiliano Blackburn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Charles Manson.
Manson shoots in but Blackburn avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Blackburn tries to counter by clinching up but Manson breaks away and moves out of range.
Manson tries a head kick but it misses.
Blackburn was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Blackburn manages to avoid it.
Blackburn is looking to counter punch.
Manson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Manson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Manson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manson shoots in but Blackburn avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Blackburn was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Manson fails with the takedown.
Manson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Manson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Manson shoots for a takedown but Blackburn saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Blackburn misses the target.
Blackburn stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Blackburn wants it to stay on the feet.
An attempted straight right counter from Blackburn misses the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Blackburn circles away.
Manson shoots for a double leg takedown but Blackburn sprawls well. He's pushed Manson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Blackburn misses the target.
Manson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Blackburn is fending him off so far but Manson persists. Nope, Blackburn circles away and we're back to standing.
Manson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Blackburn counters with a stiff right hand.
Manson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Blackburn's waist but Blackburn gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Manson off to one side.
Blackburn tries to counter by clinching up but Manson breaks away and moves out of range.
Blackburn stuffs the takedown.
Manson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Blackburn but Blackburn pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Blackburn was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Manson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Blackburn circles away.
A little feinted left hand from Blackburn on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Manson fails to land the takedown.
An attempted straight right counter from Blackburn misses the target.
Nice takedown defense from Blackburn. No joy for Manson on that attempt.
Blackburn slaps away a takedown attempt from Manson, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Manson gets a clinch.
Manson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Manson blocks an uppercut.
Blackburn throws a punch but it's blocked by Manson.
Manson has Blackburn pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Blackburn manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Manson blocks a body shot from Blackburn.
Blackburn misses with a hook to the ribs.
Blackburn swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Manson manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Blackburn trying to control the position from guard on top but Manson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Emiliano Blackburn is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Blackburn is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Manson is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Charles Manson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Emiliano Blackburn showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Blackburn, 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Emiliano Blackburn!
A very excited looking Emiliano Blackburn made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.