PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Hratch Tzien (ranked 1712 p4p, 1600 weight class) and Emiliano Blackburn (ranked 178 p4p, 170 weight class). Tzien comes to the cage accompanied by R*ck It. Hratch Tzien had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Tzien
vs
Blackburn

170 cm
35
145
19 - 17 - 1

168 cm
29
135
18 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 17 - 1, fighting out of London, Hratch Tzien!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Emiliano Blackburn!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tzien throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Blackburn with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Tzien to score with a decent uppercut.

Tzien fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Blackburn, pushing him back against the cage.
Blackburn misses with a short punch on the inside.
Blackburn goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Blackburn fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Tzien breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tzien lands a nice shot that snaps Blackburn's head back.
A punch combination from Tzien misses.
Blackburn does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Tzien moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Blackburn. Tzien does a little dance to reset his feet.
Blackburn closes the distance and lands a one-two.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Blackburn paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Tzien ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Blackburn throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Tzien to counter with a crisp jab.

Blackburn closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackburn lands with a light punch inside.
Tzien has a couple of punches blocked by Blackburn.
Blackburn is stalling here.
A shot in the inside from Tzien.

Blackburn pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Blackburn shoots in for a takedown but Tzien shows good takedown defense.
Tzien throws a big shot that misses.
Blackburn is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Tzien connects with a crisp jab.
Tzien with the inside leg kick.
Tzien slips a jab and a cross from Blackburn.
Tzien walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Blackburn with a hook.
Nice defenses there by Tzien.
It looked like Tzien wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tzien lands with a kick to the ribs.
Blackburn blocks a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn misses with a leg kick.
Tzien fires out a quick counter leg kick but Blackburn just manages to avoid it.
Hratch Tzien is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Blackburn throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
That kick from Tzien tenderised Blackburn's leg. Blackburn is trying to keep his angry face on.
Blackburn closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Blackburn fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Tzien looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Tzien uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Blackburn.
It looked like Tzien wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Tzien gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Tzien trying to keep a closed guard but Blackburn is proving a slippery customer.

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

Tzien looking for a guillotine here but Blackburn defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tzien wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Blackburn is now in half guard.
Tzien is trying to get back to full guard.
Tzien is trying to maintain the position but Blackburn is very close to passing his half guard.
Tzien gets back to full guard.
Tzien controlling Blackburn's posture.

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.

Blackburn stands up and waves to Tzien to follow him.
Tzien takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

It looks like Hratch Tzien has been cut.
Tzien closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Blackburn throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Blackburn lands an overhand right.
Blackburn tries to land a leg kick but Tzien saw it coming and moves away.
Blackburn listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Tzien blocks a jab.
A chopping leg kick lands by Tzien.
Blackburn scores with a hook to the body. Tzien takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Blackburn swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Tzien is looking to counter punch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Emiliano Blackburn dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Hratch Tzien's cut.
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.

Blackburn throws a body shot but no joy.
It looked like Tzien wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
A solid leg kick lands there for Blackburn.
Emiliano Blackburn seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tzien misses with a head kick.
Blackburn shoots in for a double leg but Tzien sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A counter left hand to the body from Tzien misses its target.

Blackburn has Tzien up against the cage in a clinch.
Blackburn blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Tzien is trying to pull guard but Blackburn turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Tzien blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Blackburn misses with a hook to the ribs.
Tzien jumps guard but Blackburn turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Tzien misses with a short punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tzien tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hratch Tzien. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tzien fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tzien working aggressively here.
Blackburn blocks an uppercut.
Tzien goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Blackburn softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tzien tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short body shot lands from Blackburn as the two fighters clinch.
Tzien jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Blackburn walks away with a smile on his face. Tzien gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A swing and a miss from Tzien.
Blackburn has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Blackburn scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Tzien tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Blackburn was well out of range. Poor timing from Tzien.
Blackburn slips under a jab.

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

Tzien jumps into guard, dragging Blackburn to the mat.

Blackburn stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Blackburn closes the distance and clinches.
Tzien throws a head punch that misses.
Tzien fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tzien misses with some punches.
Tzien misses with the head strike.
Tzien tries to work over Blackburn's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tzien.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tzien fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Blackburn lands a shoulder strike.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Blackburn.
Blackburn scores with a shot to the side of Tzien's head.

Tzien jumps into guard, dragging Blackburn to the mat.
Tzien is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Blackburn stands up and waves to Tzien to follow him.
Tzien steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Blackburn.
Both fighters circling a little - Blackburn finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Blackburn stalks Tzien and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Tzien's face. Tzien staggers backwards, shaken.
Blackburn slips a straight right by Tzien.
A nice leg kick lands there from Blackburn.
Tzien misses with a low kick as Blackburn jumps back.
Tzien throws a wild body kick that Blackburn sees coming a mile off.
Blackburn tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tzien tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Blackburn paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A punch combination from Tzien misses.
A punch lands to the side of Tzien 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Tzien gets caught napping as Blackburn dives in and scores a takedown. Tzien manages to retain guard.

Tzien escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Blackburn gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Tzien has control of Blackburn's left arm, preventing Blackburn from doing any damage.

Tzien has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Blackburn can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Blackburn gets to his feet. Tzien looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Blackburn throws the left hand but Tzien avoids the punch easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tzien displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Blackburn throws out the jab.
Tzien throws a quick counter head kick but Blackburn was just out of range.
Tzien scores with a leg kick.
Blackburn blocks the body kick.
Blackburn dodges the punch combination from Tzien.
Tzien slips a straight right by Blackburn.
Emiliano Blackburn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A jab from Tzien finds it's way through Blackburn's defenses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tzien uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Blackburn.
Tzien is looking to chop away at Blackburn's legs.
Tzien misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Blackburn swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Tzien counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Blackburn keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tzien.
Tzien looks to score with a jab to the body but Blackburn is just out of range.
A low kick from Tzien is predictable there

and Blackburn counters with a shoot takedown. Tzien fights it but they end up in guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Emiliano Blackburn showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Hratch Tzien's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Tzien cracks Blackburn with an open hand slap.
Blackburn shoots in but Tzien avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Blackburn moves into the clinch successfully.
Tzien tries to pull guard but Blackburn holds him up against the cage and eventually Tzien drops back down to his feet.

Tzien manages to pull guard.
Tzien looking to control.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Tzien holds on and takes a little breather.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tzien is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Blackburn must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Tzien managing to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tzien is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Tzien controls Blackburn momentarily but Blackburn frees himself.
Tzien is adopting a defensive guard.
Tzien controls Blackburn momentarily but Blackburn frees himself.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Tzien closes the distance and clinches.
Hratch Tzien has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Blackburn lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Tzien lands a left hand.
Blackburn wants to get back to striking at distance but Tzien won't allow it.
Blackburn can't find room to land a body shot as Tzien controls the action.
Tzien lands with a left to the head.
Tzien jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Blackburn walks away with a smile on his face. Tzien gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Blackburn loads up on a big right hand but Tzien slips the punch.
Blackburn swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A low kick from Tzien misses

and Blackburn counters with a single leg into guard. Tzien didn't expect that.
Tzien wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Tzien has an active guard here but Blackburn has managed to pass into half guard.
Tzien slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tzien looking for subs off his back but Blackburn has passed one foot through into half guard.
Tzien wants to control but Blackburn is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Tzien is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Blackburn pulls his head out easily.
Tzien is trying to get back to full guard.
Tzien gets full guard.
Blackburn preventing the sweep.

Blackburn gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Blackburn jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Tzien eats them both and turns towards Blackburn to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Tzien stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Blackburn.
Tzien throws a series of punches but Blackburn moves out of range.
Blackburn lands a really nice looking cross but Tzien seems unphased.
Blackburn takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Tzien instigates a clinch.
Emiliano Blackburn is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Tzien throws a punch but it's blocked by Blackburn.
Emiliano Blackburn seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Blackburn misses with a body punch.
Tzien tries a body shot but Blackburn blocks it.
Blackburn tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Tzien fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Blackburn on the inside.
I was talking to Tzien's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Blackburn blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Tzien swings away with an uppercut that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Emiliano Blackburn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Blackburn 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Emiliano Blackburn!
Emiliano Blackburn very nearly forgot to thank Conviction amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.