PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Josh Tinder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Grey Blanchard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Tinder
vs
Blanchard

180 cm
18
260 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
26
255 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Josh Tinder!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Grey Blanchard!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Dirk Anderson and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Blanchard is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Tinder's half guard.
Tinder is holding on to half guard well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blanchard looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Tinder pushes Blanchard off looking to stand but Blanchard dives back in and keeps control.
Blanchard passes to full mount!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tinder is hanging on here. He's in a desperate position.
Blanchard landing punches.
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.
Blanchard misses with a head shot.
Blanchard working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Blanchard sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Tinder squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Blanchard controlling from mount.
Blanchard's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Blanchard working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tinder is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Blanchard looking to control and managing it successfully.
Tinder is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Tinder is in a horrible position here. Blanchard smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Blanchard lands a big shot there that rocks Tinder but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Blanchard controlling the position easily from mount.
Blanchard lands a nice shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blanchard trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Tinder is trying to stand up.
Blanchard controlling the pace for now.
Tinder gets back to half guard.
Tinder is breathing heavily.
Blanchard controlling the pace.
Blanchard trying to mount his opponent but Tinder defends it.
Tinder wants to control but Blanchard is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Blanchard is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Blanchard controlling from the full mount.
Blanchard working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Tinder is bucking up trying to escape but Blanchard cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Blanchard controlling his opponent.
It looks like Blanchard might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Blanchard tries to control but Tinder wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tinder looks for the body kick but Blanchard saw that one coming.
Blanchard gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Tinder counters with a series of strikes. Blanchard will be more careful next time no doubt.
Blanchard is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tinder shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Blanchard pinned against the cage. Blanchard gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Blanchard shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Blanchard is looking to advance position but Tinder won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tinder manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Blanchard fails with a takedown attempt.
It looked like Tinder was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Blanchard blocks the body kick.
Blanchard blocks a head kick by Tinder.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Blanchard decides to pull guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tinder trying to control but Blanchard is working from the bottom.
Tinder sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Blanchard pulls Tinder in close to prevent any damage.
Blanchard is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blanchard looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tinder tries to stand but Blanchard is controlling from the bottom.
Blanchard not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Tinder - that will leave a mark!
Tinder looks for a takedown but Blanchard sprawls well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Blanchard shoots in for a takedown but Tinder shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Josh Tinder has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Grey Blanchard.
Blanchard keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Blanchard dives in and scores a takedown into Tinder's guard.
Blanchard passes Tinder's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Blanchard is taking a breather. Tinder says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Blanchard seems to be looking for submissions.
Blanchard passes the guard and advances to mount!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Blanchard putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grey Blanchard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Tinder fails with the takedown.
Tinder shoots in but no luck this time.
Tinder closes the distance and clinches up with Blanchard, looking for a takedown. Tinder pushes Blanchard against the cage but Blanchard circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Tinder. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blanchard throws a series of punches but Tinder moves out of range.
Tinder fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Blanchard manages to avoid it.
Tinder could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Blanchard moves into the clinch.
Blanchard has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tinder tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tinder looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Blanchard has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Tinder is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
A shot in the inside from Blanchard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Blanchard jumps into guard, dragging Tinder to the mat.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Blanchard is on top in guard.

Tinder trying to control the position here.
Blanchard wants to control from the top but Tinder keeps moving.
Blanchard tries to free his leg and advance position but Tinder is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blanchard is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Blanchard pushes down on Tinder's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Blanchard looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Blanchard thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Tinder's head.
Blanchard is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tinder scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Blanchard manages to mount him!
Tinder is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Blanchard has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Tinder's face.
Tinder wants to control but Blanchard is having none of it.
Blanchard sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
More stalling from Blanchard.
Tinder tries to hold on but Blanchard postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blanchard breaks from Tinder's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Blanchard punishing his opponent with strikes.
Blanchard trying to control but Tinder is having none of it.
Grey Blanchard has got the better of the ground game so far.
Blanchard controlling the pace for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Blanchard is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Tinder is surviving well by controlling Blanchard's body position as best he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Grey Blanchard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Blanchard winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 25:30
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 25:30
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Grey Blanchard!