PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Erek Horton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shane Blankenship (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Horton comes to the cage accompanied by Sandman. Blankenship has chosen Crazy Train as his entrance music. 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.

Horton
vs
Blankenship

183 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

183 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

Decent elbows
Big heart

Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Erek Horton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Shane Blankenship!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, John Mangel and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blankenship throws a sloppy head kick and Horton moves out of range easily.

Blankenship has closed the distance and engaged Horton in a clinch.
Blankenship tries to circle away but Horton has him pinned against the cage.
Horton landing knees to the body.
Blankenship managing to block the knees to the body from Horton.
Horton utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Blankenship blocks an uppercut.
Horton keeps control of Blankenship as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Horton working aggressively here.
Blankenship with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Blankenship wants to get back to striking at distance but Horton won't allow it.
Horton tries a body shot but Blankenship blocks it.
Horton connects with a nasty looking knee right to Blankenship's face.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Horton creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Blankenship's defenses.
Horton has Blankenship pressed against the cage, preventing Blankenship from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Horton lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Shane Blankenship has been cut.
Horton struggles to land a body shot inside as Blankenship controls his hands.
Knees in the clinch landing for Horton.
Blankenship looks gassed!
Blankenship takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blankenship tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Horton avoids it.
Horton goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Horton landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Horton landing knees to the head.
Horton works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Horton tries to work over Blankenship's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Horton goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Horton lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Horton using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Horton tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Horton.
Blankenship takes a knee right on the jaw!
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!
Horton creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Blankenship's defenses.
Horton lands with a left to the head.
A short uppercut from Horton.
Horton comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horton lands an elbow just above Blankenship 's eye.
Horton unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Blankenship takes an elbow to the forehead.
Horton with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Horton comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Horton lands a nice knee to the body.
Horton pushes Blankenship back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Horton scores with a knee to the head.
Horton landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Horton obliges.
A shot in the inside from Horton.
Horton lands a good knee to the midsection. Blankenship won't want to take too many of those.
Horton lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Horton misses with a punch to the body.
Blankenship tries to stall but Horton uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horton keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Blankenship's efforts to push away.
Horton unloads a knee to the mid-section. Blankenship lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Horton lands a good knee to the midsection. Blankenship won't want to take too many of those.
Blankenship takes a knee to the side of the body.
Horton tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Horton lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Blankenship tries to break the clinch but Horton is controlling the position.
Blankenship stalling the fight.
Horton lands an elbow inside.
Horton unloads a knee to the mid-section. Blankenship lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Horton connects with a knee to the head.
Blankenship avoids a wild elbow strike from Horton.
Blankenship managing to block the knees to the body from Horton.
Blankenship is trying to break the clinch but Horton has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horton lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Blankenship scores with a hook to the body.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Blankenship wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Blankenship looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Horton creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Blankenship's defenses.
Horton tries to land knees in the clinch but Blankenship avoids the damage to the body.
Horton tries to land a knee to the head but Blankenship blocks with his arms.
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!
Horton connects with a nasty looking knee right to Blankenship's face.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Blankenship wants to break free but Horton has control.
Blankenship is trying to break the clinch but Horton has him pressed against the cage.
Blankenship lands an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erek Horton dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Shane Blankenship's cut.
That's time! Horton's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Horton tries to clinch up.
Blankenship scores with a nice strike.
Horton tries to clinch up but Blankenship circles away and keeps his distance.

Horton has closed the distance and engaged Blankenship in a clinch.
Blankenship slows down the pace here.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Horton lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Horton tries a body shot but Blankenship blocks it.
Horton pushes off an throws an elbow but Blankenship leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Horton lands a knee to the head.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Knees to the body from Horton.
Blankenship is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horton landing knees to the body.
Horton landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Horton connects with a nasty looking knee right to Blankenship's face.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Horton obliges.
Horton lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Horton lands with a left to the head.
Blankenship looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
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!
Horton comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Horton lands an elbow that stopped Blankenship in his tracks for a moment.
Erek Horton has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Horton comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Horton is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Blankenship can do to turn this around?
Horton lands a right hand.
Blankenship is trying to break the clinch but Horton has him pressed against the cage.
Horton misses with a short punch on the inside.
Knees in the clinch landing for Horton.
Horton throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Blankenships head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horton landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Horton softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Horton lands an elbow that stopped Blankenship in his tracks for a moment.
Blankenship tries to stall but Horton uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Horton crunches a lovely knee into Blankenship's ribcage.
Horton utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Blankenship's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Horton scores with a knee to the head.
Horton tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Blankenship looking to throw knees to the head but Horton is blocking nicely.
Horton swings wildly with an uppercut but Blankenship uses good head movement to avoid it.
Horton scores with a shoulder strike.
Horton with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blankenship is stalling here.

Blankenship pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Blankenship on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Horton. Horton obviously looking to wear him down.
Horton fails in his attempt to clinch.
Blankenship shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Blankenship misses the shot to the body.
Blankenship circles away from the clinch attempt.
Blankenship throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Horton.
Horton tries to clinch there but Blankenship circles away.

Blankenship closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Horton lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horton lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Horton scores a nice knee to the body.
Horton throws a head punch that misses.
Horton tries to throw a body punch but Blankenship avoids it by throwing Horton back against the cage.
Blankenship tries to circle away but Horton has him pinned against the cage.
Blankenship wants to break free but Horton has control.
Horton lands a nice knee to the body.
Blankenship takes a knee right on the jaw!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Horton can't find room to land a body shot as Blankenship controls the action.
Horton tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Blankenship has had enough of the clinch but Horton keeps him there for the moment.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Horton misses with a short punch on the inside.
Horton tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Blankenship avoids it.

Blankenship manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erek Horton dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Shane Blankenship's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! 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.

Blankenship will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Horton tries to clinch up but Blankenship circles away and keeps his distance.
Blankenship circles away from the clinch attempt.
Blankenship looks to throw a body kick
and Horton counters with a solid body kick.
Horton takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Blankenship takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Blankenship throws a series of punches but Horton avoids them all with ease.
Horton pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Blankenship back to the cage. Horton follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Horton is looking to clinch.
Blankenship misses with the combination.
Horton moves in looking to clinch but Blankenship pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horton throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Horton lands a head kick. Blankenship smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Horton is looking to clinch but Blankenship is avoiding it.
Horton moves in looking to clinch but Blankenship pushes him off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Horton looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Blankenship has Horton up against the cage in a clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Horton.
Horton lands a good knee to the midsection. Blankenship won't want to take too many of those.
Horton utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Knees to the body from Horton.
Horton misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Horton landing knees to the body.
A short right from Horton on the inside.
Horton utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Blankenship's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Horton lands a body punch in the clinch.
Horton pushes Blankenship back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Horton landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Horton comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Blankenship wants to get back to striking at distance but Horton won't allow it.
Horton lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horton landing knees to the body.
Blankenship is trying to break the clinch but Horton is controlling him.
Horton with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Blankenship blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Horton fails to land.
Horton struggles to land a body shot inside as Blankenship controls his hands.

Blankenship manages to break the clinch.
Blankenship tries to land a front kick but Horton steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Blankenship gets in close and instigates a clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Blankenship throws an elbow but misses.
Stalling in the clinch from Blankenship.
Horton scores a nice knee to the body.
Blankenship takes a knee to the side of the body.
Blankenship is trying to break the clinch but Horton has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horton comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Horton misses with a hook from the clinch.
Blankenship stalling in the clinch.
Horton lands a good knee to the midsection. Blankenship won't want to take too many of those.
Blankenship tries to break free but Horton pushes him back against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Horton.
Nice elbow from Horton.
Blankenship managing to block the knees to the body from Horton.
Blankenship is struggling to control the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Horton unloads a knee to the mid-section.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Horton tries a body shot but Blankenship blocks it.
Blankenship is working Horton over against the cage.
Shane Blankenship has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Erek Horton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Blankenship wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

And that's the end of the fight!
Erek Horton showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Horton has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Erek Horton!
In his post fight interview, Erek Horton started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.