PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Emiliano Blackburn (ranked 1165 p4p, 1185 weight class) and Rikuto Ryuunosuke (ranked 141 p4p, 145 weight class). Ryuunosuke has chosen You Wa Shock as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Blackburn
vs
Ryuunosuke

168 cm
20
135
4 - 1 - 0

175 cm
26
156
4 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Good gas tank

Convicted Trap House
Conviction

Core Combat
Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Emiliano Blackburn!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rikuto Ryuunosuke!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Wagner Zegers and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ryuunosuke misses with a head kick.
Ryuunosuke moves in looking to clinch but Blackburn pushes him off.
Blackburn swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Ryuunosuke fails with an attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ryuunosuke looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Ryuunosuke fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Blackburn, pushing him back against the cage.

Ryuunosuke jumps guard.

Blackburn got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ryuunosuke has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Blackburn has managed to get both his arms back between Ryuunosuke's legs - danger averted.
Our spies down at at MMA Dojo (Top Gym in Tokyo*) inform us that Ryuunosuke has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Blackburn passes Ryuunosuke's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Ryuunosuke looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Ryuunosuke looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blackburn is pressing down on Ryuunosuke's thigh, looking to free his foot. Ryuunosuke is holding on for now.
Ryuunosuke is refusing to be controlled, as Blackburn sits in half guard.
Blackburn looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ryuunosuke actively working from the bottom here.
Ground and pound from Blackburn.
Blackburn is looking to take a break and control but Ryuunosuke is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Ryuunosuke looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Blackburn trying to control the action but Ryuunosuke is working from the bottom.
Ryuunosuke slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
We've been hearing that Blackburn has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Ryuunosuke keeping moving, preventing Blackburn from controlling successfully.
Blackburn distracts Ryuunosuke with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ryuunosuke looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Blackburn looking to pass the guard.
Blackburn wants to control from the top but Ryuunosuke keeps moving.

Ryuunosuke looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Blackburn passes into half guard.
Blackburn is looking to advance position but Ryuunosuke won't allow it.

Ryuunosuke looking for submissions off his back.
Ryuunosuke moves into full guard.
Blackburn wants to control from the top but Ryuunosuke keeps moving.
Blackburn has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Ryuunosuke had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Blackburn defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ryuunosuke controls Blackburn momentarily but Blackburn frees himself.
Blackburn is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Blackburn's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Blackburn wants to control from the top but Ryuunosuke keeps moving.

Ryuunosuke is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Ryuunosuke looking for a guillotine here but Blackburn defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Blackburn is stalling in the full guard.

Ryuunosuke is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Blackburn distracts Ryuunosuke with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Blackburn trying to control the position from guard on top but Ryuunosuke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Blackburn passes into half guard.
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 Emiliano Blackburn will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Blackburn closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Ryuunosuke is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Blackburn controls the position.
Ryuunosuke can't do much from the bottom here.
A lull in the action here as Blackburn stalls from top position.
Ryuunosuke manages to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blackburn wants to free his trapped foot but Ryuunosuke is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Ryuunosuke actively working from the bottom here.
Blackburn content to control rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ryuunosuke looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Blackburn passes to side control.
Blackburn tries to move to mount but Ryuunosuke blocks the move with his legs.
Blackburn is working hard here to advance position.
Ryuunosuke is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Ryuunosuke regains half guard.
Blackburn trying to mount his opponent but Ryuunosuke defends it.
Blackburn wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ryuunosuke keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ryuunosuke is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Blackburn scores with a couple of nice shots.
Ryuunosuke tries to get to full guard but Blackburn has control of the leg.
Blackburn lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Blackburn here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Blackburn looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ryuunosuke is refusing to be controlled, as Blackburn sits in half guard.
Blackburn is looking to advance position but Ryuunosuke won't allow it.

Ryuunosuke looking for submissions off his back.
Ryuunosuke makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ryuunosuke.
Emiliano Blackburn overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Ryuunosuke is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Blackburn is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn controlling from the top position.
Blackburn wants to control from the top but Ryuunosuke keeps moving.

Ryuunosuke is looking for a triangle here but Blackburn uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Blackburn lands a nice forearm strike.
Blackburn working the body and head with strikes.
Ryuunosuke is looking for a sweep.
Ryuunosuke is not content to let Blackburn control the position.
Ryuunosuke tries to buck Blackburn off but Blackburn is having none of it.
Blackburn wants to control but Ryuunosuke is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn is chipping away with strikes.
Ryuunosuke tries to improve position but can't.
Blackburn controlling the position.
Ryuunosuke is looking to regain half guard here but Blackburn keeps moving and retains side control.
Ryuunosuke is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Blackburn trying to control the position but Ryuunosuke is working away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ryuunosuke takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Ryuunosuke tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emiliano Blackburn dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

A big left from Blackburn misses.
Blackburn looks to throw the jab but Ryuunosuke is out of range.

Blackburn shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Blackburn showed some decent athleticism there.
Blackburn winds up and cracks Ryuunosuke with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Blackburn tries to pass to full mount but Ryuunosuke defends it.

Ryuunosuke is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Blackburn pulls his head out easily.
Blackburn wants to pass the guard but Ryuunosuke is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blackburn lands with a punch from half guard.

Ryuunosuke looking for a kimura from the bottom but Blackburn passes into side control!
Ryuunosuke is trying to get back to half guard.
Blackburn works to advance to full mount. Ryuunosuke defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryuunosuke is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Ryuunosuke is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Ryuunosuke is looking to improve his position but Blackburn isn't that keen on the idea.
Blackburn working Ryuunosuke over with strikes here.
Blackburn controlling his opponent.
Ryuunosuke is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Blackburn is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ryuunosuke can do to turn this around?
Ryuunosuke sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Blackburn is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ryuunosuke actively working from the bottom here.
Blackburn wants to pass the guard but Ryuunosuke is defending well.
Ryuunosuke wants to control but Blackburn is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Blackburn trying to mount his opponent but Ryuunosuke defends it.
Blackburn working over Ryuunosuke with some ground and pound. Ryuunosuke looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Ryuunosuke has hold of a guillotine but he's not going to be able to crank on it really with only half guard, so it's no trouble for Blackburn. Oh but Ryuunosuke has got full guard now! Oh boy! This one could be over very soon! Blackburn goes limp - he's gone! Ryuunosuke jumps up and celebrates with the crowd - fantastic submission finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Rikuto Ryuunosuke!
Rikuto Ryuunosuke is the new featherweight champion!
An out of breath Rikuto Ryuunosuke thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.