PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Igor Blancho (ranked 1544 p4p, 678 weight class) and John Bell (ranked 55 p4p, 110 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Blancho
vs
Bell

200 cm
27
287
11 - 7 - 0

192 cm
26
270
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Highland Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Igor Blancho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, John Bell!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, David Hoff and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blancho misses with a takedown
and Bell connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

It looks like Igor Blancho has been cut.

Bell tries to sprawl but Blancho drives through with a takedown into half guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Blancho's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Bell is concentrating on defense, preventing Blancho from advancing position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blancho sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bell defending well though.
Bell really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Blancho. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Bell is trying to control but can't.
Blancho has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Blancho content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Blancho drops an elbow to the side of Bell's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Well, if Blancho is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Blancho is trying to work for a kimura but Bell is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bell controlling the position well.
Bell keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Bell wants to get back to full guard.
Blancho trying to control from half guard but Bell is working away.
Blancho is really struggling to control Bell but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Blancho is working for a kimura here but Bell manages to reverse the position and he's now in Blancho's guard.
Blancho is adopting a defensive guard.
Blancho wants to sweep but no luck.
Bell pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Blancho is keeping the position for now.
Blancho is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blancho keeping moving, preventing Bell from controlling successfully.
Blancho looking to control.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Blancho is looking to sweep but instead, Bell has passed into half guard.
Blancho gets back to full guard.
Bell must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Blancho 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.
Bell 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.
Bell looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Blancho is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bell is controlling him.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Blancho misses with a takedown attempt
and Bell counters with a straight right hand.
Blancho misses with a takedown
and Bell counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Igor Blancho. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blancho shoots and misses
and Bell counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Blancho looks for a takedown but Bell sprawls well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Blancho shoots and misses
enabling Bell to counter with a crisp jab.
Blancho has his takedown stuffed
and Bell counters with a series of strikes that practically lifts Blancho off his feet! He tumbles backwards, his head bouncing off the mat - Bell follows up with more strikes before the ref can step in but Blancho was out before he hit the floor.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). John Bell!
A very excited looking John Bell 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.