PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Isaiah Cooleman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jason Blanche (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cooleman's entrance music is Real Nigga Roll Call. A fine choice. 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.

Cooleman
vs
Blanche

225 cm
25
181 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
180 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

Dangerous GnP
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Isaiah Cooleman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jason Blanche!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cooleman dodges the punch combination from Blanche.
Blanche thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cooleman really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Cooleman shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Blanche as he jumps to the side.
Blanche lands with a hook. Cooleman tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Cooleman drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Cooleman taking a breather here.

Cooleman has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Cooleman avoids the head kick by Blanche.

Cooleman shoots in and bounces Blanche off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Blanche is on top in guard.
Blanche in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Blanche lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Blanche trying to control the position from guard on top but Cooleman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blanche has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Blanche advances position into side control!
Blanche cracks Cooleman with a big right hand but Cooleman just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Cooleman is trying to get back to half guard.

Blanche is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Cooleman is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Cooleman is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blanche creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Blanche scoring with punches and elbows.
Blanche wants to control but Cooleman is keeping him busy.
Cooleman is trying to improve his position.
Cooleman avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Blanche.
Cooleman is trying to buck Blanche off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Blanche thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Cooleman gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Blanche not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Blanche is looking for a kimura here.
Cooleman wants to improve his position but Blanche is controlling well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cooleman is breathing heavily.
Blanche not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blanche controlling the action here.

Blanche is trying to work for a kimura but Cooleman is defending well.

Blanche is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Cooleman is just riding it out for now. Blanche eventually gives up the hold.
Cooleman is looking to control Blanche's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cooleman avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jason Blanche will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Blanche keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Cooleman shoots in for a takedown but Blanche shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Blanche throws a head kick but Cooleman moves out of range.
Blanche circles away from the clinch attempt.
Blanche is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cooleman sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Cooleman throws a series of punches but Blanche avoids them all with ease.
Cooleman comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Cooleman gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Blanche tries to pull guard but Cooleman holds him up against the cage and eventually Blanche drops back down to his feet.

Cooleman has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Blanche clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Cooleman is trying to stick to Blanche's back but Blanche is turning into Cooleman. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Cooleman's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Blanche.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blanche working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Blanche lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Blanche connects with a couple of short punches.
Blanche with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Blanche 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.
Blanche wants to control from the top but Cooleman keeps moving.
Blanche in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cooleman is trying to control the position but Blanche postures up.
Cooleman utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two 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.
Blanche throwing strikes but missing.
Cooleman knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Blanche on the ground.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cooleman tries to clinch but Blanche moves out of range.
Blanche scores with a nice right hand.
Cooleman shoots in looking for a takedown. Blanche tries to sprawl out of it but Cooleman keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Blanche manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Blanche is defended easily by Cooleman.
Isaiah Cooleman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jason Blanche.
Cooleman is looking to clinch but Blanche is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooleman throws a solid leg kick but Blanche takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Cooleman.
Isaiah Cooleman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Blanche shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cooleman as he avoids it easily.
Cooleman wants to clinch.
Blanche tries for a takedown but Cooleman circles away easily

and Cooleman counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Blanche's guard now.
Cooleman wants to control from the top but Blanche keeps moving.
Blanche bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cooleman's guard.
Blanche looking to pass the guard.
Blanche stands up over Cooleman, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Cooleman is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blanche scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Blanche trying to control the position from guard on top but Cooleman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blanche passes into half guard.
Blanche is keen to just control but Cooleman is a slippery customer.
Blanche winds up and cracks Cooleman with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Blanche wants to pass to mount but Cooleman is defending the position.
Blanche trying to control from half guard but Cooleman is working away.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Blanche connects with a nice short shot to Cooleman's temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Isaiah Cooleman dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

A big left from Cooleman misses.

Blanche gets a takedown into half guard.
Cooleman blocking the ground and pound attempt from Blanche.
Cooleman is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are battling for position here. Cooleman manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Blanche stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cooleman swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cooleman keeping moving, preventing Blanche from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Blanche throwing strikes from guard but Cooleman blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blanche wants to control from the top but Cooleman keeps moving.
Blanche is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Blanche shoots in but Cooleman avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cooleman with a lazy takedown attempt

and Blanche counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Blanche is working Cooleman over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Cooleman keeping moving, preventing Blanche from controlling successfully.
Blanche scoring with some ground and pound.
Blanche missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blanche pushing down on Cooleman's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Blanche is nestled in close to Cooleman, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Blanche lands strikes from half guard.
Blanche lands strikes from half guard.
Cooleman is trying to control but can't.
Blanche wants to take a breather but Cooleman is having none of it.
Blanche seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Blanche lands strikes from half guard.
Cooleman wants to get back to his feet.
Blanche working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Blanche seems to be working for a kimura but Cooleman defends the submission attempt.
Cooleman tries to get to full guard but Blanche has control of the leg.
Nice strikes from Blanche there.
Cooleman is looking to control Blanche's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cooleman avoid being mounted?
Blanche working over Cooleman with some ground and pound. Cooleman looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Blanche content to control rather than advance.
Cooleman is looking to escape.

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.
Blanche is trying to control. Cooleman wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Blanche misses with a takedown attempt - Cooleman sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Nice takedown defense from Cooleman. No joy for Blanche on that attempt.
Isaiah Cooleman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jason Blanche.

Cooleman drives through and clinches with Blanche against the cage.

Cooleman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cooleman throws the kick towards the body but Blanche avoids it.
Blanche throws a hook but Cooleman avoids it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jason Blanche comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Blanche 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jason Blanche!