PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rex Umbranox (ranked 4755 p4p, 5515 weight class) and Billy Blade (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Umbranox
vs
Blade

168 cm
21
198
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
16
185
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rex Umbranox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Billy Blade!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Daniel Franklin and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Blade clinches.
A nice left hand lands by Blade.
Umbranox misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Umbranox drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Umbranox jumps guard but Blade turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Blade lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Umbranox backwards.
With the fighters up against the cage, Umbranox throws an elbow but misses.
Umbranox tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Blade smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rex Umbranox. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Umbranox doesn't manage to clinch there - Blade circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blade moves in looking to clinch but Umbranox pushes him off.

Umbranox pushes Blade up against the cage in a clinch.
Umbranox tries to break free but Blade pushes him back against the cage.
A body shot lands from Blade.
Umbranox really is a fat lump.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blade fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Umbranox is looking for a takedown.
Blade has a couple of punches blocked by Umbranox.
Blade has Umbranox pressed against the cage, preventing Umbranox from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Umbranox controlling the action here for a moment.
Blade content to slow the pace in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Blade fails to land.
Umbranox takes a shot to the head.
Umbranox has Blade pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Blade manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Umbranox is struggling to control the position.
Blade gets underhooks to prevent Umbranox's takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Blade manages to break the clinch.
Umbranox misses with a takedown
and Blade counters with a left to the body.
Umbranox is breathing heavily.

Blade scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Blade wants to lay and pray for a moment but Umbranox keeps working.
Blade might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Umbranox haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
You can see the frustration on Umbranox's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Umbranox tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Umbranox is trying to control Blade's posture but Blade avoids it.
Umbranox is trying to improve his position.

Blade thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Blade wants to control but Umbranox is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Umbranox is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Umbranox avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Blade.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Umbranox can't do much from the bottom here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Blade dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Umbranox darts in and clinches Blade up against the cage.
Umbranox is looking to break free of the clinch but Blade has double underhooks.
Blade lands with a left to the head.
Blade lands a nice uppercut.

Blade manages to break the clinch.
Umbranox tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Umbranox tries to clinch but Blade is having none of it.
Umbranox tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Umbranox takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Umbranox looks for a takedown but Blade sprawls well.
Umbranox throws a nice looking combination but Blade bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Blade throws out a counter right but Umbranox avoids it with no problem.
No luck for Umbranox with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Umbranox doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Blade counters with a straight right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rex Umbranox. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Umbranox shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Blade lands a stunning uppercut that sends Umbranox to the mat!

Umbranox is rocked!
Umbranox is refusing to be controlled, as Blade sits in half guard.

Blade is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Blade is trying to control. Umbranox wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Blade controlling the action here.
Blade wants to stand up but Umbranox is controlling the position.
Blade controlling the action here.

Blade is working for a kimura but Umbranox is defending it quite comfortably.
Blade wants to take a breather but Umbranox is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Blade is working for a kimura but Umbranox is defending it quite comfortably.
Blade uses his free foot to push down on Umbranox's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Umbranox.
Umbranox tries to lock up and control but Blade gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

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.
Blade looking to control but Umbranox is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Blade sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blade tries to control but Umbranox wriggling away.
Umbranox regains half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Umbranox tries to roll over but Blade keeps him under control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Blade showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Blade doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Umbranox counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Blade is trying to control the position but Umbranox postures up.
Blade is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Umbranox 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blade is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Umbranox showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Umbranox wants to stand but Blade is controlling his posture from full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Umbranox tries to close the distance and clinch but Blade swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Blade looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Umbranox tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Blade paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Umbranox misses with a leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Blade. Umbranox does a little dance to reset his feet.
Umbranox goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Umbranox tries to close the distance and clinch but Blade swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Some wild striking there from Umbranox.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blade wants to clinch up but Umbranox keeps it at a distance.
Umbranox tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Blade paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Blade tries to counter by closing the distance.
Umbranox leaves Blade with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Umbranox is looking to counter the offense by Blade and move into the clinch.

Blade drives through and clinches with Umbranox against the cage.
Umbranox is trying to pull guard but Blade turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Umbranox is trying to break the clinch but Blade is controlling him.
Blade blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Umbranox is looking to control Blade's arms but Blade gets an underhook and turns him. Now Umbranox has his back to the cage.
Umbranox has had enough of the clinch but Blade keeps him there for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Umbranox tries to pull guard but Blade won't allow it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Blade just leaning against Umbranox, taking a breather.
Blade stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Blade scores with a shot to the side of Umbranox's head.
Blade scores with a shoulder strike.
Umbranox wants to take the fight to the mat but Blade manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Billy Blade is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rex Umbranox. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Umbranox blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Umbranox fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Umbranox is trying to break free.
A short right from Blade on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Blade's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Umbranox has his takedown stuffed
and Blade counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Blade clinches with his opponent.

Blade breaks from the clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Blade. Umbranox does a little dance to reset his feet.
Blade has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Umbranox changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Blade tries to avoid it but Umbranox manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Blade to the ground. Blade escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Blade instigates a clinch.
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!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Blade misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rex Umbranox has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Umbranox tries to pull guard but Blade holds him up against the cage and eventually Umbranox drops back down to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Billy Blade comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Blade 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Billy Blade!