PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hugh Blackwood (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Noob Saibot (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Blackwood
vs
Saibot

181 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

182 cm
18
179 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Perkele!

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Hugh Blackwood!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Noob Saibot!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Wagner Zegers and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saibot looks to throw the jab but Blackwood is out of range.
Blackwood uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Saibot.
Saibot misses with a wild body shot.
Saibot misses with a hook.

Blackwood shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Blackwood showed some decent athleticism there.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Blackwood not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Blackwood looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Saibot regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Blackwood.
Blackwood throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Blackwood accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Blackwood is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saibot utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Blackwood pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Saibot is keeping the position for now.
Blackwood sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Blackwood with a flurry of punches that miss.
Blackwood looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blackwood lands a couple of elbows.
Blackwood is looking to work some ground and pound but Saibot has wrist control.
Blackwood throws a big right hand that misses.
Blackwood working some strikes from top position.
Saibot wants to stand up but Blackwood is controlling him.
Blackwood working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Saibot can't keep his opponent in guard - Blackwood advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Blackwood not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blackwood is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Saibot blocking the ground and pound attempt from Blackwood.
Saibot regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Blackwood.
Blackwood throws a strike but Saibot rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Blackwood wants to stand but Saibot is controlling the position.
Blackwood managing to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blackwood on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Blackwood tries to get out of the position.
Blackwood has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Saibot has passed into side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Blackwood wants to control but Saibot postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hugh Blackwood dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Saibot slaps away a takedown attempt from Blackwood, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Blackwood shoots in but Saibot avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Saibot connects with a nice looking jab.
Horrible takedown by Blackwood or perhaps it was just good defense by Saibot which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hugh Blackwood. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Saibot lands a body shot.
Blackwood fails with a takedown attempt.
Blackwood throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Saibot's waist but Saibot gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Blackwood off to one side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saibot lands a glancing blow to the side of Blackwood's head.
Nice cross by Saibot.

Blackwood gets a double leg takedown into Saibot's guard.
Blackwood wants to control from the top but Saibot keeps moving.
Blackwood throwing strikes from guard but Saibot blocks nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Blackwood is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Blackwood in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Blackwood connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saibot is looking to stand up but Blackwood isn't so interested in that idea.
Blackwood in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Saibot keeping moving, preventing Blackwood from controlling successfully.
Blackwood controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Blackwood missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blackwood throwing strikes but missing.
Blackwood with a nice head shot there.
Blackwood landing with the ground and pound.
Blackwood missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Blackwood in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Blackwood throws an elbow that misses. Saibot uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Blackwood's guard. Nice move by Saibot!
Saibot is fighting to break Blackwood's control of his arms but Blackwood is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Saibot won't allow Blackwood to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blackwood seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Blackwood wants to sweep but no luck.

Hugh Blackwood has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Saibot misses with a wild combination.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Saibot thows a body shot but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Hugh Blackwood will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

A big right from Saibot misses.
Saibot paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Saibot lands the left hand.
Saibot displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Blackwood.
Blackwood shoots for a takedown but Saibot saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nice defenses there by Saibot.
Blackwood fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hugh Blackwood. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Saibot lands a really nice looking cross but Blackwood seems unphased.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Blackwood bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Blackwood working the head with strikes.
Blackwood throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Saibot works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Blackwood seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Blackwood throws a strike but Saibot avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Blackwood chips away with some ground and pound.
Blackwood postures up in Saibot's guard and throws a big left but Saibot blocks it.
Saibot utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blackwood postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Blackwood with a nice head shot there.
Saibot wants to stand and escape but Blackwood is having none of it.
Blackwood keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Saibot's head.
Saibot preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Blackwood is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Blackwood working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Saibot wants to stand up but Blackwood is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blackwood missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Blackwood loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Blackwood trying to control but Saibot is working from the bottom.
Blackwood trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Blackwood engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Saibot gets caught flat footed, as Blackwood shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saibot utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Saibot keeping moving, preventing Blackwood from controlling successfully.
Saibot avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Blackwood throws a big elbow that misses.
Blackwood postures up in Saibot's guard and throws a big left but Saibot blocks it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Saibot keeping moving, preventing Blackwood from controlling successfully.
Blackwood missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hugh Blackwood showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Blackwood, 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hugh Blackwood!