PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bronn Blackwater (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Kelso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Blackwater comes to the cage accompanied by For Whom the Bell Tolls. Bronn Blackwater had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Blackwater
vs
Kelso

190 cm
29
210 lbs
15 - 9 - 0

190 cm
28
217 lbs
13 - 10 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

ADCC Champion
Counter striker
Powerful

Syndicate Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bronn Blackwater!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michael Kelso!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Thiago Cunha and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Blackwater as Kelso shoots in.
Blackwater tries to clinch up but Kelso circles away and keeps his distance.
Kelso avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A big left from Blackwater misses.
Blackwater throws a body punch but Kelso moves out of range.
Blackwater keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kelso takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Bronn Blackwater seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kelso tries to score a power double leg takedown but Blackwater sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kelso somewhat.
Bronn Blackwater has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Kelso.
Blackwater throws a big shot that misses.

Blackwater closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackwater crunches a lovely knee into Kelso's ribcage.
Blackwater tries to land a knee to the head but Kelso blocks with his arms.
With the fighters up against the cage, Blackwater throws an elbow but misses.
Kelso takes a knee to the side of the body.
Kelso avoids a wild elbow strike from Blackwater.
Blackwater tries to land knees in the clinch but Kelso avoids the damage to the body.
Blackwater gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Blackwater lands an elbow inside that Kelso shrugs off.
Kelso managing to block the knees to the body from Blackwater.
Blackwater missing with knees to the body.
Kelso drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Blackwater lands a nice elbow.
Blackwater lands an elbow just above Kelso 's eye.
Blackwater throws a knee to the head but misses.
Blackwater with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Blackwater lands an elbow inside.

It looks like Michael Kelso has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kelso blocks an elbow strike from Blackwater.
Kelso avoiding damage as Blackwater throws knees to the body.
Kelso tries to score a body lock takedown but Blackwater shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Blackwater content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Blackwater tries a knee to the head but Kelso blocks it.
Blackwater lands an elbow that stopped Kelso in his tracks for a moment.
Kelso blocks the elbow strike.
Blackwater lands a good knee to the midsection. Kelso won't want to take too many of those.
Blackwater lands a knee to the head.
Blackwater comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Kelso avoiding damage as Blackwater throws knees to the body.
Blackwater with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Blackwater lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Blackwater stalling against the cage.
Blackwater prevents a takedown attempt there.
Blackwater manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kelso is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Blackwater using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kelso has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kelso changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Blackwater fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Kelso has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Blackwater.
Kelso looks gassed!
Kelso fails to land with a series of punches.
Blackwater tries to close the distance and clinch but Kelso swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bronn Blackwater is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Blackwater throws a jab but it's blocked by Kelso.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blackwater wants to clinch.
Kelso paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Kelso throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A big right from Kelso misses.
Kelso shoots in looking for a takedown. Blackwater tries to sprawl out of it but Kelso keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Blackwater manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kelso swats away the attempt to clinch by Blackwater.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bronn Blackwater dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Michael Kelso's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Blackwater slips a straight right by Kelso.
Kelso changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Blackwater tries to avoid it but Kelso manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Blackwater to the ground. Blackwater escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Blackwater wants to clinch.
Blackwater tries to clinch but Kelso moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blackwater pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Blackwater throws a push kick but Kelso slaps the foot to one side.
A telegraphed right hand from Kelso misses the target.
Kelso is looking to clinch but Blackwater is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kelso tries to clinch up but Blackwater circles away and keeps his distance.
Blackwater throws a sloppy head kick and Kelso moves out of range easily.
Blackwater tries to clinch up

and Kelso decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Blackwater's guard.
Blackwater is adopting a defensive guard.
Kelso stands up over Blackwater, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Kelso throwing strikes from guard but Blackwater blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blackwater has momentary wrist control but Kelso slips an elbow through the middle.
Kelso throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kelso tries to free his leg and advance position but Blackwater is retaining full guard.
Kelso loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kelso accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kelso wants to control from the top but Blackwater keeps moving.
Blackwater 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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kelso accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Blackwater looking for a guillotine here but Kelso defends easily.
Kelso working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Blackwater's head.
Kelso landing some decent shots from guard.
Blackwater avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kelso drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Blackwater dives on top into guard.
Blackwater advances position into side control!
Kelso tries to improve position but can't.
Kelso is trying to control Blackwater's posture but Blackwater avoids it.
Kelso is trying to improve his position.
Blackwater working away.
Kelso is trying to get back to half guard.
Kelso manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Blackwater is staying active underneath Kelso, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Blackwater is looking to control Kelso's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Blackwater avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blackwater gets back to full guard.

Blackwater is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Blackwater 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.
Blackwater avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blackwater is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Blackwater missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Blackwater is trying to control. Kelso wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kelso is trying to maintain the position but Blackwater is very close to passing his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Kelso showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Michael Kelso's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. 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.

Some wild striking there from Kelso.
The fight stays on the outside here - Blackwater looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Blackwater showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kelso.

Kelso clinches up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kelso fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Blackwater is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kelso is defending well for now.
Kelso fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Blackwater throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kelso blocks it with crossed arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackwater throws a knee to the head but misses.
Blackwater stalling.
Blackwater looking to throw knees to the head but Kelso is blocking nicely.
Blackwater lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Kelso is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Blackwater gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Bronn Blackwater has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Kelso.
Blackwater lands an elbow just above Kelso 's eye.
Kelso avoiding damage as Blackwater throws knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Blackwater.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Blackwater connects with a knee to the head.
Blackwater landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Kelso takes a knee to the side of the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Kelso lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Kelso throws a strike but Blackwater avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blackwater wants to sweep but no luck.
Kelso working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Blackwater is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kelso landing with the ground and pound.
Kelso throws a big right hand that misses.
Blackwater trying to keep a closed guard but Kelso is proving a slippery customer.
Kelso throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Blackwater works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Kelso is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Kelso postures up in Blackwater's guard and throws a big left but Blackwater blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kelso working some strikes from top position.
Blackwater controlling the position.
Blackwater keeping moving, preventing Kelso from controlling successfully.
Blackwater not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Kelso has gone for a leg lock! Blackwater slips out almost immediately though and dives into Kelso's guard.
Kelso is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Blackwater thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kelso wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Blackwater got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kelso has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Blackwater has managed to get both his arms back between Kelso's legs - danger averted.
Blackwater is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Kelso escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Blackwater gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kelso keeping moving, preventing Blackwater from controlling successfully.
Kelso wants to sweep but no luck.
Blackwater stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kelso swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Blackwater is working hard here to advance position.

Kelso has his foot on Blackwater's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Blackwater works his way back into a safe position though.

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 Bronn Blackwater.
I think Blackwater 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Bronn Blackwater!