PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Choctaw Bloode (ranked 671 p4p, 2456 weight class) and Iliya Topuria (ranked 95 p4p, 314 weight class). Topuria is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Black Eyed Bruiser. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Bloode
vs
Topuria

189 cm
25
210
10 - 5 - 0

190 cm
25
207
6 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Urban Fighter

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Choctaw Bloode!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Iliya Topuria!
The judges for this bout are Chris Dean, Ben Watson and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bloode looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Bloode keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bloode half committed to a counter leg kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Bloode.
Topuria jabs Bloode right on the nose. Bloode blinks but takes it well.

Topuria gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Bloode misses with some punches.
Topuria fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Topuria drops down looking for an ankle pick but Bloode pulls his leg out and moves away.
Topuria misses with a body punch
and Bloode makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Topuria has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Topuria lands with a right hand.
Topuria lands with a hook. Bloode tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Topuria misses with a body punch
and Bloode counters with a nice body kick.
Bloode lands a leg kick that knocks Topuria off balance momentarily.
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!
Bloode looks to land a left hand but Topuria moved out of range nicely.
Iliya Topuria seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bloode lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A lazy left from Topuria finds it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bloode misses with a leg kick.
Bloode defending well as Topuria loads up on a big left hand.
Topuria throws a body punch but Bloode moves out of range.
Topuria ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bloode moves away.
Bloode swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Topuria tries to clinch up but Bloode circles away and keeps his distance.
Topuria throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Topuria connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Bloode's hands.
Topuria lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A slapping leg kick lands for Topuria.
Topuria throws a lazy head kick
and Bloode counters with a one-two to the body.

Topuria bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
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!
Topuria trying to control the action but Bloode is working from the bottom.

Topuria tries for a kimura but Bloode is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bloode tries to improve position but can't.

Topuria tries for a kimura but Bloode is defending well.
Bloode is looking to regain half guard here but Topuria keeps moving and retains side control.
Bloode is not content to let Topuria control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bloode tries to buck Topuria off but Topuria is having none of it.
Topuria in side control, throwing shots but Bloode defends.
Bloode avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Topuria.
Topuria is looking to take a break and control but Bloode is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

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.
Topuria controlling the position.

Topuria thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Bloode is looking for a sweep.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Bloode is not content to let Topuria control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Topuria scores with a hook to the body. Bloode takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Iliya Topuria dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Topuria lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Bloode uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Topuria.
Bloode blocks a jab.
Bloode was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Topuria looks to throw a body kick
letting Bloode counter with a right hand.

It looks like Iliya Topuria has been cut.
Bloode throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Topuria lands a right hook to the body.
Nice defenses there by Bloode.
Topuria jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A big left from Topuria misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Topuria misses with a looping right.
Topuria looks to land a left hand but Bloode moved out of range nicely.
Bloode throws a quick counter kick to the body but Topuria avoids it.
Bloode on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Bloode looks for the body kick but Topuria saw that one coming.
Choctaw Bloode is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Topuria takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Topuria catches Bloode with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Bloode's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Topuria connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Bloode scrambles back to his feet.
Topuria misses with a body shot.
Bloode swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Bloode looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Topuria scores with a body shot.
Topuria shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bloode but Bloode pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bloode lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Topuria scores with a hook to the body. Bloode takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Topuria feints and then cracks Bloode's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Bloode down.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Topuria checks a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bloode walks into a straight right hand from Topuria.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Topuria looks to score with a jab to the body but Bloode is just out of range.
A decent looking cross lands there for Topuria.
Topuria rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Bloode makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Topuria throws a hook to the side of Bloode's head but Bloode sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Topuria lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Topuria fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Topuria throws a jab when Bloode was well out of range.
Bloode slips a jab from Topuria.
A lazy left from Bloode finds it's target.
Topuria looks to score with a jab to the body but Bloode is just out of range.
Bloode lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Topuria tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bloode manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Topuria uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Topuria lands a jab to Bloode's midsection.
Topuria takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Topuria looks to score with a jab to the body but Bloode is just out of range.
Topuria throws a looping overhand right but Bloode ducks down to avoid it.
Topuria misses with a two punch combination.
Bloode goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Bloode gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Topuria.
Topuria moves to clinch but Bloode breaks away
and Bloode connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Bloode throws a lazy head kick
enabling Topuria to counter with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Topuria looks to land a right hand but Bloode moved out of range.
Bloode bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Topuria's head backwards.
Bloode slips a jab from Topuria.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Topuria tries to clinch up.
Bloode half committed to a counter leg kick.
Topuria checks a low kick from Bloode.
Bloode throws a leg kick that is checked
and Topuria counters with a nice uppercut.

Bloode moves into the clinch successfully.
Topuria lands with a right to the head.
Bloode blocking some punches.
Bloode prevents Topuria from breaking the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Bloode.
Topuria working aggressively here.
Bloode misses with some punches.
Topuria scores with a shoulder strike.

Topuria gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Bloode is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Topuria dives into side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Iliya Topuria showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Iliya Topuria's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Topuria throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Bloode cracks Topuria with an open hand slap.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Topuria.
Some wild striking there from Topuria.
Topuria avoids the body shot from Bloode.
Topuria lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Topuria connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bloode misses with a left hand
and Topuria counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Topuria ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Iliya Topuria seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bloode lands a nice looking kick to the body. Topuria takes a step back to recover.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Topuria shoots in for a takedown but Bloode shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bloode slips a jab from Topuria.
Bloode throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Topuria jabs at Bloode's body.
Bloode steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Topuria.
Topuria throws a poor cross that misses
and Bloode counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Bloode connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Topuria slips a straight right by Bloode.
Topuria lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Bloode at a distance.
Topuria has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bloode ducks under a wild hook from Topuria.
Topuria takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Topuria feints the counter takedown.
Topuria swings away with a body shot that misses
and Bloode counters with a nice uppercut.
Topuria takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bloode misses with a leg kick.
Bloode avoids a punch combination nicely.
A counter left hand to the body from Bloode misses its target.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bloode lands a slapping body shot.
Bloode takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Topuria lands a jab to the nose.
Bloode avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Bloode looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Topuria blocks the body kick.
Bloode misses with a kick to the body
and Topuria counters with a nice uppercut.
Topuria throws a series of strikes that have Bloode backpedaling.
Topuria tries to close the distance and clinch but Bloode swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
An attempted straight right counter from Bloode misses the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Topuria throws a shot from downtown. Bloode moves away and avoids it.
Bloode swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Topuria moves out of range as Bloode strikes.
Topuria misses with an uppercut
and Bloode counters with a low kick, right behind Topuria 's knee.
Topuria avoids a kick to the body.
Bloode just misses with a punch to the body.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Topuria! But no joy.
Topuria scores with a jab. Bloode acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Bloode throws out a loose jab but Topuria uses good head movement to avoid it.
Topuria misses with a two punch combination.
Bloode ducks under a wild hook from Topuria.
Topuria lands with a slapping head kick.
Topuria misses with a shot to the body
and Bloode counters with a three punch combo that has Topuria backing up. Topuria nods at Bloode to acknowledge the strikes.
Bloode misses with a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Topuria pushes Bloode away with a front kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bloode avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Bloode walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Topuria checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Topuria misses with a lunging right hand
and Bloode counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Topuria throws a shot from downtown. Bloode moves away and avoids it.
Bloode dodges the punch combination from Topuria.
Choctaw Bloode has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bloode takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Bloode looks for the body kick but Topuria saw that one coming.

Topuria closes the distance and clinches.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Iliya Topuria.
Well Topuria 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 Chris Dean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Iliya Topuria!
A victorious Iliya Topuria thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.