PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Frank Blank (ranked 1550 p4p, 1782 weight class) and Vern Vurris (ranked 78 p4p, 92 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Blank
vs
Vurris

198 cm
32
280
10 - 11 - 0

201 cm
29
270
20 - 9 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Fast

PWNAGE™
Shadow Realm Apparel

Brooklyn Threads
Fantasy Threads (Laundry 15%)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Frank Blank!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vern Vurris!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Daniel Bishop and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blank tries to clinch up
and Vurris counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Vurris feints and as Blank raises his hands in defense, Vurris changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Vurris stands up over Blank, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Vurris postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Vurris controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Blank preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Vurris trying to control but Blank is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blank controls Vurris momentarily but Vurris frees himself.
Vurris looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vurris sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Vurris sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Blank's guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Vurris in particular looking to stall.
Vurris is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Blank is trying desperately to improve position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blank gets back to half guard.
Blank wants to get back to full guard.
Blank is working hard here to advance position.
Vurris not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Blank wants to get back to full guard.
Vurris is looking to pass Blank's guard but actually Blank recovers to full guard.
Blank wants to sweep here but Vurris controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vurris chips away with some ground and pound.
Blank on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Blank tries to get out of the position.
Vurris trying to control the position from guard on top but Blank is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vurris passes into half guard.
Vurris trying to control the action but Blank is working from the bottom.
Vurris working over Blank with some ground and pound. Blank looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Vurris is looking for a kimura but Blank is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Vurris to get the leverage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blank is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Vurris scores with a couple of nice shots.
Blank is refusing to be controlled, as Vurris sits in half guard.
Vurris is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Vurris landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

It looks like Frank Blank has been cut.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Blank moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Vurris pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Blank is keeping the position for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Vern Vurris dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Frank Blank's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

That kick from Vurris tenderised Blank's leg. Blank is trying to keep his angry face on.
Blank misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Vurris.
Vurris flicks out a counter leg kick but Blank steps away.
Blank throws a quick inside leg kick.
An inside leg kick from Blank misses.
A head kick misses from Blank.
Vurris avoids the body shot from Blank.
Blank fails with an attempt to clinch.
Vurris with the counter takedown but Blank avoids it easily.
Vurris fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Vurris avoids a punch combination nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blank throws a leg kick
and Vurris counters with a solid body kick.
Blank swings away with a body shot that misses
and Vurris cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Blank misses with a double jab
and Vurris counters with a right hand to the body.
A low kick from Blank misses
and Vurris counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vurris slips a jab and a cross from Blank.
Vurris swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

Vurris closes the distance and clinches.

Vurris has Blank pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Vurris pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Blank tumbling to the mat - Vurris dives into Blank's guard.
Vurris sitting in guard here, content to control.
Vurris trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Blank wants to sweep here but Vurris controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Blank is trying to keep Vurris in close.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Vurris throws a combination. Blank tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Blank swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Vurris goes for a double leg but Blank avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Blank continues to drive forward.
Frank Blank is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Blank fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vurris keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Vurris swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Blank misses with an uppercut
and Vurris counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Vurris throws a nice inside leg kick.

Blank has closed the distance and engaged Vurris in a clinch.
Blank stalling in the clinch but Vurris improves position.

Blank pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Blank walks into a jab.
Vurris uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Blank.
A jab from Blank misses.
A little jabbing left from Vurris on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Blank is looking to clinch but Vurris is avoiding it.
Blank throws a predictable looking body shot
and Vurris counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Vurris circles away from the clinch attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Vurris.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vurris has taken the fight to the clinch.
Blank leaning his opponent against the cage.
Vurris has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Blank prevents the takedown attempt.
Frank Blank has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vern Vurris.

Blank manages to break the clinch.
Blank is looking to wear down Vurris with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Blank takes a swing at Vurris's ribcage but misses.
Blank wants to slow Vurris down by chopping away at his legs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nice body punch from Vurris.
Blank darts in trying to clinch
and Vurris counters with a lovely straight right hand!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Vern Vurris showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Frank Blank's cut.
That's time! Blank's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Vurris avoids the head kick by Blank.
Frank Blank seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Blank misses with a leg kick
and Vurris counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Blank throws a right and a left that Vurris avoids nicely.
A head kick misses from Blank.
Vurris stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Blank misses with a body shot.
A little jabbing left from Vurris on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Blank clinches with his opponent.
Blank tries to circle away but Vurris has him pinned against the cage.
Vurris keeps control of Blank as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Blank is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blank lands a body shot.
Blank tries to land a knee to the head but Vurris blocks with his arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blank wants to break free but Vurris has control.
Vurris blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Blank has Vurris pushed against the cage.

Blank's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Blank throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Vurris now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Blank tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Vurris was well out of range. Poor timing from Blank.
Blank throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Vurris avoids a punch combination nicely.
A punch combination from Vurris misses.
Blank misses with an attempted mid kick.
Vern Vurris is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vurris takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Vurris avoids the head kick by Blank.
Blank misses with a head kick.
Vurris lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Blank throws a right hand that Vurris ducks under and follows up with a left that Vurris also avoids with ease.
Blank tries to clinch but Vurris moves out of range.
Blank throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Vurris takes the fight into the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Vurris - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
A shot in the inside from Blank.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vurris blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Vurris blocks the elbow strike.
Blank tries to break the clinch but Vurris is controlling the position.
A bit of stalling here from Blank.
Vurris blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Frank Blank has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vurris lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Vurris pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Blank looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Vurris feints a counter leg kick.
Blank throws a leg kick
and Vurris counters with a straight right hand.
Blank takes one to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blank swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Vurris appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Blank throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Vurris scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Vurris catches Blank with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Blank with a hook.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Blank misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Vurris connects with a body shot.
Vurris lands with a good body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Blank throws a leg kick but Vurris sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Blank throws a sloppy head kick and Vurris moves out of range easily.

Vurris looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Vurris is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Frank Blank.
I think Vurris has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vern Vurris!
Vern Vurris seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.