PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Luca Blanco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gerd De Lange (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gerd De Lange will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Blanco
vs
De Lange

180 cm
25
210 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

Decent wrestler
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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Luca Blanco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Gerd De Lange!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Dirk Anderson and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
De Lange shoots in looking for a takedown. Blanco tries to sprawl out of it but De Lange keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Blanco manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
De Lange has a takedown stuffed.
Blanco changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. De Lange tries to avoid it but Blanco manages to keep hold of a leg and drag De Lange to the ground. De Lange escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Blanco leaves De Lange with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Luca Blanco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gerd De Lange.
Blanco tries for a takedown but De Lange sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
De Lange shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Blanco as he avoids it easily.
De Lange closes this distance looking for a takedown but Blanco circles away.

De Lange shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Blanco napping and manages to drive through into side control!

De Lange looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
De Lange looks winded!
Blanco can't do much from the bottom here.
Blanco is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because De Lange is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

De Lange goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Blanco has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for De Lange but great work by Blanco.

Blanco thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Blanco trying to control the action but De Lange is working from the bottom.
Blanco taking a break here but De Lange is having none of it and regains half guard.
Blanco frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Lange is squirming around, avoiding Blanco's attempts to control the action.
Blanco sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Blanco can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as De Lange is looking to escape.
De Lange tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Blanco is looking to take De Lange's back but instead De Lange gets back to half guard. Nice work.

Blanco is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Lange keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Blanco is trying to control the action in half guard but De Lange is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Blanco wants to work for an arm triangle but De Lange is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Blanco is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

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.
Blanco passes the guard and advances to mount!
De Lange is squirming around, avoiding Blanco's attempts to control the action.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Blanco jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… De Lange is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by De Lange and Blanco has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luca Blanco dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

De Lange scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Blanco trying to control but De Lange postures up.

De Lange is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Blanco is just riding it out for now. De Lange eventually gives up the hold.
Blanco is trying to maintain the position but De Lange is very close to passing his half guard.

De Lange seems to be working for a kimura but Blanco defends the submission attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blanco gets back to full guard.
De Lange preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

De Lange has gone for a leg lock! Blanco slips out almost immediately though and dives into De Lange's guard.

Blanco stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. De Lange swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Blanco lands a couple of elbows.
Blanco trying to move into half guard but instead De Lange has managed to sweep!

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blanco looking for a sweep. Not yet Blanco, not yet.

De Lange drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Blanco manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now De Lange has Blanco in his guard.

De Lange wants to improve his position but instead Blanco has moved into half guard.
De Lange is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blanco missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Blanco is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Blanco is working for a kimura here but De Lange manages to reverse the position and he's now in Blanco's guard.
De Lange wants to pass the guard but Blanco is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

De Lange has gone for a leg lock! Blanco slips out almost immediately though and dives into De Lange's guard.

Blanco wants to control from the top but De Lange keeps moving.
Blanco is really struggling to control De Lange but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Blanco tries to free his leg and advance position but De Lange is retaining full guard.
Blanco throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as De Lange works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Blanco passes De Lange's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Blanco is looking for a kimura but De Lange is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Blanco to get the leverage.
De Lange manages to get to full guard.
De Lange working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Blanco.
De Lange is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Blanco stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. De Lange swivels though and keeps the full guard.
De Lange seems keen to control Blanco's posture.
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 Luca Blanco will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

De Lange leaves Blanco with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
De Lange dives in for a single leg takedown but Blanco sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
De Lange tries to score a power double leg takedown but Blanco sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten De Lange somewhat.
De Lange will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Luca Blanco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gerd De Lange.
Blanco shoots in looking for a takedown but De Lange manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Blanco's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
De Lange shoots for a double leg takedown but Blanco sprawls well. He's pushed De Lange's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Blanco attempts a counter takedown but De Lange avoids it well and moves away.
Nice takedown defense from De Lange. No joy for Blanco on that attempt.

Blanco looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Blanco drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and De Lange dives on top into guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blanco is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

De Lange is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Blanco is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Blanco has escaped and now he's on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blanco with a flurry of punches that miss.
Blanco trying to control the position from guard on top but De Lange is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blanco looking to sit in guard and control but De Lange gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

De Lange drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Blanco manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now De Lange has Blanco in his guard.

Blanco is looking to work some ground and pound but De Lange has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blanco trying to control but De Lange is working from the bottom.
Blanco looking to sit in guard and control but De Lange gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Blanco is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Blanco is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. De Lange is aware though and is defending well.

De Lange has gone for a leg lock! Blanco slips out almost immediately though and dives into De Lange's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blanco in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Blanco is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that De Lange can do to turn this around?
Blanco missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Blanco throws an elbow that misses. De Lange uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Blanco's guard. Nice move by De Lange!

De Lange drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Blanco dives on top into guard.

Blanco with a flurry of punches that miss.
Blanco trying to control but De Lange is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blanco lands a couple of digs.
Blanco looking to pass the guard.
Luca Blanco overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Blanco trying to control but De Lange is working from the bottom.
Blanco trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Blanco passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
De Lange tries to get back to half guard but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luca Blanco showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Blanco 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 David Hoff scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luca Blanco!