|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mick Taylor (ranked 1425 p4p, 1430 weight class) and Kenny Blankenship (ranked 129 p4p, 130 weight class). Blankenship has chosen MXC Most Extreme Challenge as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
 |
|
 |
| 180 cm
25
147
12 - 7 - 1 |
|
170 cm
22
130
7 - 3 - 0 |
Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible |
|
Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank |
|
| |
|
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 12 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Mick Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kenny Blankenship!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Jorge Garcia and Reed Andrews.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blankenship gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Taylor to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Blankenship has control of Taylor's left arm, preventing Taylor from doing any damage.
Taylor looking to pass the guard.
Blankenship controlling Taylor's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor is looking to pass into half guard but Blankenship pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Blankenship is in guard.
Blankenship landing some decent shots from guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blankenship postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Blankenship landing some decent shots from guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Blankenship throwing strikes but missing.
Taylor looking to control.
Blankenship avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Taylor pulls Blankenship in close to prevent any damage.
Blankenship content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Blankenship is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Blankenship is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Blankenship working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Blankenship connects with a couple of short punches.
Blankenship with a flurry of punches that miss.
Taylor is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Taylor looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Blankenship is trying to get back to full guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor wants to work for an arm triangle but Blankenship is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Taylor wants to take a breather but Blankenship is having none of it.
Well, if Taylor 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.
Taylor wants to work for an arm triangle but Blankenship is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Blankenship manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Blankenship controls Taylor momentarily but Taylor frees himself.
Taylor looking to sit in guard and control but Blankenship gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Blankenship is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Taylor is trying to keep Blankenship in close.
Blankenship throwing strikes but missing.
Blankenship landing with the ground and pound.
Blankenship is working Taylor over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Blankenship won't allow Taylor to sweep him here.
Blankenship working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Taylor pulls Blankenship in close to prevent any damage.
Taylor working for a triangle but Blankenship defends it easily.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blankenship scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Blankenship throws an elbow that misses. Taylor uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Blankenship's guard. Nice move by Taylor!
Blankenship keeping full guard, as Taylor tries to pass.
Taylor passes Blankenship's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Blankenship is looking for a sweep. Taylor is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Blankenship trying to control here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but I would say that Mick Taylor will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!
Blankenship lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Taylor dives in and grabs Blankenship's left leg, looking for a takedown. Blankenship pushes down on Taylor's head and hops out.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Taylor.
Taylor misses the jab.
Taylor defending well as Blankenship loads up on a big left hand.
Taylor looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Blankenship swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Taylor is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Blankenship.
A swing and a miss from Blankenship.
Taylor misses with a straight right.
Blankenship misses with a left hand
and Taylor counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Blankenship thinking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Blankenship momentarily.
Blankenship avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Blankenship throws out a loose jab but Taylor uses good head movement to avoid it.
Blankenship misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Taylor closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Taylor lands in his opponent's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Taylor trying to control but Blankenship is working from the bottom.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Blankenship is trying to keep Taylor in close.
Taylor trying to control but Blankenship is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blankenship not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Taylor trying to control but Blankenship is working from the bottom.
Taylor wants to pass the guard but Blankenship is keeping the position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Blankenship keeping moving, preventing Taylor from controlling successfully.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Blankenship lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Taylor throws a right and a left that Blankenship avoids nicely.
Blankenship misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Taylor.
Nice defenses there by Blankenship.
Taylor throws a hook but Blankenship avoids it easily.
Blankenship throws out a powerful jab.
Taylor uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Blankenship.
Blankenship throws a hook but Taylor avoids it easily.
Blankenship tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Taylor was well out of range. Poor timing from Blankenship.
Taylor looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Blankenship trying to hold on to Taylor's head to control him but Taylor postures up.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is trying to work for a kimura but Blankenship is defending well.
Blankenship won't allow Taylor to pass to mount.
Taylor is thwarting Blankenship's attempts to control the position.
Taylor is trying to control. Blankenship wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Taylor is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Blankenship sees it coming and defends easily.
Taylor is working for a submission of some sort.
Blankenship has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Taylor is working away from the top position though.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Blankenship is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Taylor's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Taylor's back!
Blankenship is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Taylor up.
Taylor grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Mick Taylor overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Blankenship is not going to allow Taylor to sit and survive in this position.
Blankenship is landing with strikes from the back.
Blankenship throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Taylor!
Taylor is covering up but some of the strikes from Blankenship are getting through and doing damage.
Blankenship lands with a hammerfist to the side of Taylor's head.
Taylor breaks Blankenship's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Blankenship looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Blankenship has his hands on Taylor's head, controlling the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Kenny Blankenship will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!
Taylor with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Blankenship to score with a decent uppercut.
Taylor slips under a jab from Blankenship.
Taylor slips a straight right by Blankenship.
Blankenship with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Blankenship misses with a body shot.
Taylor getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Blankenship misses with a left hand
and Taylor counters with a straight right hand.
Taylor moves out of range of the strikes.
Blankenship scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blankenship swinging wildly here.
Blankenship tries to clinch
letting Taylor counter with a right hand.
Taylor moves into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A short right from Blankenship.
Blankenship misses with a punch to the body.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Blankenship misses with a body punch.
Blankenship misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A head punch on the inside from Blankenship fails to land.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Blankenship as Taylor tries to tie him up.
Taylor is trying to maintain a safe position but Blankenship gets an underhook and turns Taylor into the cage.
Taylor is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Blankenship can't fight it off and eventually Taylor manages to take the fight to the floor. Blankenship looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Blankenship is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Taylor trying to control but Blankenship is working from the bottom.
Taylor won't allow Blankenship to sweep him here.
Taylor sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Blankenship's guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blankenship is trying to control but can't.
Blankenship won't allow Taylor to pass to mount.
Taylor is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Taylor wants to work for an arm triangle but Blankenship is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Blankenship trying to control here.
Blankenship tries to get to full guard but Taylor has control of the leg.
Blankenship keeps trying to improve his position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blankenship is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Taylor prevents Blankenship from improving his position.
Taylor is working for a kimura but Blankenship is defending it quite comfortably.
Taylor is working for a kimura but Blankenship is defending it quite comfortably.
Taylor is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Taylor trying to control from half guard but Blankenship is working away.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Blankenship misses with a looping left.
Taylor misses with a body punch
and Blankenship counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Blankenship looks to land a left hand but Taylor moved out of range nicely.
Taylor lunges at Blankenship with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Blankenship's hand.
Blankenship swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Taylor looks to score with a jab to the body but Blankenship is just out of range.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taylor throws a looping overhand right but Blankenship ducks down to avoid it.
Blankenship jabs Taylor right on the nose. Taylor blinks but takes it well.
Taylor keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Blankenship.
Sloppy strikes from Blankenship. Those never looked like landing.
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 Mick Taylor.
I think Taylor has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:28
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mick Taylor!
Our winner, Mick Taylor, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
Kenny Blankenship spoke after the fight, saying 'DON'T. GET. ELIMINATEDDD!!!'.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
38% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
