PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Markus Sizemore (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shane Blankenship (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Blankenship has chosen Crazy Train as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sizemore
vs
Blankenship

175 cm
19
200 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

183 cm
19
210 lbs
1 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Nature's Edge Nutrition

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 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Markus Sizemore!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Shane Blankenship!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Eliza Hachem and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blankenship tries for a takedown but Sizemore circles away easily

and Sizemore counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sizemore.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Sizemore is fighting to break Blankenship's control of his arms but Blankenship is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Sizemore thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Blankenship really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sizemore. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sizemore controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Blankenship has his hands on Sizemore's head, controlling the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Blankenship pushes Sizemore up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blankenship is stalling here.
Blankenship tries for a takedown but Sizemore manages to get underhooks.
Sizemore could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Blankenship breaks from the clinch.
Blankenship changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sizemore tries to avoid it but Blankenship manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sizemore to the ground. Sizemore escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Markus Sizemore has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shane Blankenship.

Sizemore throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Blankenship was covering up waiting for the punch and Sizemore finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Sizemore gets to his feet - Blankenship follows without any prompting.

Sizemore decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Blankenship is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sizemore wants to work for an arm triangle but Blankenship is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sizemore is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Blankenship!
Blankenship wants to control but Sizemore is having none of it.
Sizemore raining down shots from the mount!
Blankenship is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Sizemore trying to control but Blankenship is having none of it.
Blankenship tries to hold on but Sizemore postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sizemore has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Blankenship's face.
Sizemore with shots to the head and body - Blankenship looks very uncomfortable down there.
Sizemore tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Sizemore landing strikes from the mount and Blankenship is in trouble!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Blankenship is squirming around, avoiding Sizemore's attempts to control the action.
Sizemore controlling from the full mount.
Sizemore 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.
Blankenship is squirming around, avoiding Sizemore's attempts to control the action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sizemore tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Sizemore prevents Blankenship from getting the reversal.
Sizemore in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Blankenship is trying desperately to improve position.
Blankenship is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Blankenship is desperately trying to improve his position but Sizemore has a good base and remains in mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Markus Sizemore dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Blankenship shoots in but Sizemore avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Sizemore shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Blankenship is trying to defend but Sizemore finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Blankenship tries to get to full guard but Sizemore has control of the leg.
Sizemore looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Sizemore wants to control but Blankenship is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Markus Sizemore wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Sizemore bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
A control attempt from Blankenship but he's now mounted!
Sizemore looking to control but Blankenship is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Sizemore manages to capitalize on a mistake by Blankenship to take his back!
Sizemore lands shots from the back.

Blankenship is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Sizemore looking for the RNC.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sizemore lands punches and elbows.

Blankenship preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Sizemore.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Blankenship is really stuck here.
Sizemore not allowing Blankenship to control his hands.
Blankenship is trying to get back to his feet but Sizemore has full control of the position and if anything, Blankenship has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sizemore is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Blankenship is defending well though. Sizemore let's go of the attempt for now.
Sizemore is hanging on to Blankenship's back as he tries to escape.
Blankenship wants to get back to his feet.
Blankenship trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Sizemore trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
I would not like to be Blankenship right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.

Sizemore is looking for the choke from the back position but Blankenship is controlling his hands well.

Sizemore is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Sizemore controls the action.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Blankenship tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Sizemore takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Markus Sizemore dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Blankenship shoots for a takedown but Sizemore saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Sizemore lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Blankenship circles away quickly and effectively.

Sizemore drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Sizemore trying to control the position but Blankenship is working away.
Blankenship is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Sizemore off and has taken his back!
Sizemore is keeping busy.

Blankenship is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Sizemore is defending well though. Blankenship let's go of the attempt for now.
Blankenship avoiding Sizemore 's attempts to control his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blankenship has the hooks in. Sizemore is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Sizemore trying to survive by controlling the hands.

Sizemore defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Blankenship misses with punches from the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blankenship doesn't have the hooks in and Sizemore manages to turn into his guard.
Sizemore pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Blankenship is keeping the position for now.
Blankenship throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Sizemore trying to control the position from guard on top but Blankenship is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sizemore throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sizemore scoring with punches to the head and body.

Sizemore gets to his feet - Blankenship follows without any prompting.
Blankenship moves in looking to clinch but Sizemore pushes him off.
Sizemore shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Blankenship counters with a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Sizemore or perhaps it was just good defense by Blankenship which made him look bad.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sizemore fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Markus Sizemore. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sizemore stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sizemore wants it to stay on the feet.
Blankenship leaves Sizemore with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sizemore wants to clinch.
Blankenship wants to clinch up but Sizemore keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Blankenship.
Blankenship is looking to take a break and control but Sizemore is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ground and pound from Blankenship seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Blankenship working away.
Sizemore is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Blankenship has just dragged him back down to the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Blankenship is looking to take a break and control but Sizemore is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Shane Blankenship has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Markus Sizemore is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Blankenship is trying to get an arm triangle but Sizemore is defending well.

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 Markus Sizemore.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sizemore, 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 John Mangel scores the fight 30:28
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:28
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Markus Sizemore!
Markus Sizemore really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Nature's Edge Nutrition logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.