PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Zach Blackwood (ranked 5430 p4p, 5049 weight class) and AJ Frye (ranked 315 p4p, 300 weight class). 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?

Blackwood
vs
Frye

173 cm
18
145
1 - 2 - 0

160 cm
25
130
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zach Blackwood!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, AJ Frye!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Anthony Taglia and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blackwood tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Frye paws at him with a jab and circles away.
AJ Frye seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Frye fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Blackwood looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Frye has one foot on Blackwood's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Frye takes a swing at Blackwood's ribcage but misses.
Blackwood feinted with a counter takedown.
Frye looks for a takedown but Blackwood sprawls well.
Frye throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Blackwood shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Frye as he avoids it easily.
Frye has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Blackwood is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Frye throws the left hand but Blackwood avoids the punch easily.
Frye misses with a body kick.
Blackwood appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Frye throws a sloppy head kick and Blackwood moves out of range easily.

Frye rushes Blackwood and presses him up against the cage.
Blackwood wants a takedown.

Blackwood has picked Frye up - he's going for a ride! Blackwood dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackwood lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blackwood trying to control the action but Frye is working from the bottom.
Blackwood landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Frye works his way to full guard. Good work.
Blackwood won't allow Frye to get back to his feet.
Blackwood 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.
Blackwood trying to control the position from guard on top but Frye is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blackwood passes into half guard.
Frye flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Frye is defending against the submission attempts here by Blackwood.

Blackwood is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blackwood working the head and body with strikes.
Blackwood is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Frye is not content to let Blackwood control the position.

Frye actively working from the bottom here.
Blackwood moves into full mount! Frye won't be happy about that!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blackwood content just to control the position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blackwood raining down hammerfists from mount.
Blackwood can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Frye is looking to escape.
Blackwood connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Frye wants to hold on but Blackwood pushes him away.
Blackwood cracks Frye with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Frye takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Blackwood lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Blackwood looking to control but Frye is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Blackwood is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Frye can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Frye is wriggling around trying to escape.
Frye looks winded!
Blackwood can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Frye is looking to escape.
Frye is wriggling around trying to escape.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Blackwood lands with some strikes.
Blackwood lands a big elbow.
Blackwood lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Frye hang on?
Blackwood controlling the position easily from mount.
Frye is looking to get to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zach Blackwood dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Blackwood fails to land the takedown.
Blackwood gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Frye counter with a right hand.

Blackwood closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Frye quickly recovers to half guard.
Blackwood is nestled in close to Frye, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Blackwood working over Frye with some ground and pound. Frye looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Blackwood is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Frye can do to turn this around?
Blackwood seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Blackwood passes to side control.
Zach Blackwood overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Blackwood scores with punches from side control.
Frye is looking for a sweep.
Blackwood works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Frye is not content to let Blackwood control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackwood cracks Frye with a big right hand but Frye just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Blackwood scores with a couple of short elbows.
Blackwood is working Frye over with some ground and pound from side control.
Frye tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Blackwood wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Blackwood lands an elbow.
Blackwood avoids the strikes from the bottom by Frye.
Frye is trying to improve his position.
Frye is breathing heavily.

Blackwood goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Frye has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Blackwood but great work by Frye.
Blackwood is looking to reverse the position.
You can see the frustration on Blackwood's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blackwood regains half guard.
Blackwood is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Rollins Fitness, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Blackwood slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Blackwood is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Blackwood passes to side control.
Blackwood will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Frye is trying to get back to half guard.
Blackwood in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Blackwood cracks Frye with a big elbow.
Blackwood lands a few punches from side control.
Blackwood scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Frye to see if he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Frye is not content to let Blackwood control the position.
Frye throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Blackwood wants to lay and pray for a moment but Frye keeps working.
Blackwood lands a few punches from side control.
Blackwood cracks Frye with a big right hand but Frye just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

Blackwood looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Blackwood content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Frye taking a bit of punishment here - Blackwood scoring with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Frye is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Blackwood tries to move into full mount but can't pass Frye's legs.
Blackwood wants to control but Frye is keeping him busy.

Blackwood is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Frye has escaped the position, nice work there.
Blackwood cracks Frye with a big right hand but Frye just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Frye takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Frye is trying to escape the position but Blackwood is controlling the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zach Blackwood dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Blackwood shoots in but no luck this time.
Frye darts in looking for a takedown but Blackwood gets double underhooks and turns Frye into the cage.
Blackwood tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Frye counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Blackwood closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Frye quickly recovers to half guard.

Frye makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
No luck for Blackwood with that takedown attempt.

Blackwood clinches up with Frye and pushes him back against the cage.
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!
Blackwood looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zach Blackwood. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Blackwood lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Blackwood prevents Frye from standing back up.
Blackwood working the head and body with strikes.
Frye is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Frye takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ground and pound from Blackwood.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Blackwood there.
Blackwood working over Frye with some ground and pound. Frye looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Blackwood is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Frye is just riding it out for now. Blackwood eventually gives up the hold.
Blackwood passes to side control.
Frye is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Blackwood scores with a couple of short elbows.
Frye is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blackwood is staying tight to Frye's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Blackwood landing strikes.
Blackwood wants to control but Frye is keeping him busy.

Blackwood wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Frye, who protects the arm well.

Blackwood looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Blackwood scoring with punches and elbows.
Blackwood lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Frye down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Blackwood looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Blackwood is working Frye over with some ground and pound from side control.
Blackwood wants to control but Frye is keeping him busy.

Blackwood thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Frye wants to control but Blackwood postures up.
Blackwood working the ground and pound.
Blackwood is working Frye over with some ground and pound from side control.
Blackwood landing strikes.
Blackwood works to advance to full mount. Frye defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blackwood content just to control the position here.
Blackwood lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Frye is in a horrible position here. Blackwood smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Blackwood can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Frye is looking to escape.
A nice elbow there by Blackwood.
Blackwood scores with a couple of good head shots there.
AJ Frye has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zach Blackwood is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Blackwood controlling the position easily from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zach Blackwood showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Blackwood, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zach Blackwood!
Zach Blackwood decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.