PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lugh Blackburn (ranked 2634 p4p, 326 weight class) and Parker Phoenix (ranked 2984 p4p, 365 weight class). Blackburn comes to the cage accompanied by When the Man Comes Down. 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.

Blackburn
vs
Phoenix

187 cm
35
200 lbs
21 - 15 - 1

191 cm
33
186 lbs
22 - 12 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Lugh Blackburn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Parker Phoenix!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Gregory Folan and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Blackburn gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Blackburn prevents a body shot from Phoenix.
Phoenix struggles to land a body shot inside as Blackburn controls his hands.
Phoenix lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Blackburn or not.
Phoenix tries a body shot but Blackburn blocks it.
Blackburn jumps guard but Phoenix turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
A hook to the body from Phoenix.
Phoenix doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Phoenix lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Blackburn.
Phoenix lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Phoenix lands a hook that snaps the head of Blackburn backwards.
Phoenix tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Blackburn's elbow.
Blackburn tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A shot in the inside from Blackburn.
Nice elbow from Phoenix.
Phoenix lands a shoulder strike.
Phoenix works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Blackburn misses with the head strike.
Phoenix tries a body shot but Blackburn blocks it.
Phoenix on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Good body shot from Phoenix.
A right handed body shot lands from Phoenix.
Phoenix working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Phoenix lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackburn tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Blackburn jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Phoenix walks away with a smile on his face. Blackburn gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lugh Blackburn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blackburn moves out of range as Phoenix strikes.
Phoenix uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Blackburn.
Phoenix ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Phoenix lands an overhand right.
Phoenix misses with a straight right.
Phoenix throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Phoenix takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Phoenix misses with a body shot.
Blackburn is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Phoenix.
Phoenix lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
The fighters circling - Phoenix throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Blackburn appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Blackburn with a nice cross.
A looping hook to the body misses from Blackburn. Phoenix does a little dance to reset his feet.
Blackburn tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Phoenix was well out of range. Poor timing from Blackburn.

Blackburn forces Phoenix back against the cage and clinches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Blackburn takes an elbow to the forehead.
Phoenix lands a body punch.
Blackburn tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Phoenix smiles and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Blackburn misses.
Blackburn thuds a left hand into Phoenix's body.
Phoenix changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Phoenix fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Blackburn misses with a right hand
and Phoenix counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Phoenix dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Phoenix misses with a body shot.
Phoenix misses with a wild body shot.
Blackburn misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Phoenix.
A big left from Blackburn misses.
Phoenix takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Phoenix misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Blackburn connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Blackburn throws a jab but it's blocked by Phoenix.
Phoenix lands a slapping body shot.
Decent striking displayed by Phoenix there.
Phoenix throws a body punch but Blackburn moves out of range.
Phoenix thows a left - swing and a miss!
Phoenix pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn lands a slapping body shot.
Phoenix tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Blackburn paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Phoenix is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Blackburn rather than just go for the knockout.
Phoenix misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Blackburn.
Phoenix throws a body punch but Blackburn moves out of range.
Phoenix misses with a looping left.
Blackburn moves away from the strike by Phoenix.
Phoenix fails to land with a series of punches.
Phoenix tries for a takedown but Blackburn circles away easily
and Blackburn cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Phoenix ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Blackburn moves away.

Blackburn clinches with his opponent.
Blackburn blocks a body shot from Phoenix.
Blackburn using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Phoenix has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Blackburn.
Phoenix can't find room to land a body shot as Blackburn controls the action.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Blackburn.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Phoenix.
Blackburn misses with a knee to the head.
Blackburn fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Blackburn backwards.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Phoenix pushes off an throws an elbow but Blackburn leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Phoenix creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Blackburn's defenses.
Phoenix blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Phoenix misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Phoenix lands a hook to the side of the head.
Phoenix blocks an uppercut.
Phoenix lands an elbow inside.
Blackburn lands with a left to the head.
Phoenix misses with the head strike.
Blackburn misses with some punches.
Blackburn fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A right hook to the body lands for Phoenix.
Blackburn tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Phoenix avoids it.
Phoenix tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Blackburn's elbow.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Blackburn blocks a body shot from Phoenix.
Blackburn fails to pull guard.
Phoenix tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nice body punch from Phoenix.
Phoenix tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Blackburn's elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Parker Phoenix dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A looping hook to the body misses from Phoenix. Blackburn does a little dance to reset his feet.
A jab from Phoenix does it's job there.
Phoenix ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Phoenix throws a body punch but Blackburn moves out of range.
Blackburn is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Phoenix.
Blackburn looks to throw the jab but Phoenix is out of range.
Phoenix ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Blackburn moves away.
Phoenix takes a swing at Blackburn's ribcage but misses.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Blackburn is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Phoenix.
Blackburn throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Phoenix throws a jab when Blackburn was well out of range.
Phoenix pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Phoenix slips a straight right by Blackburn.
Blackburn has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Phoenix finds it's way round the side to connect with Blackburn's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Blackburn has closed the distance and engaged Phoenix in a clinch.
Blackburn fails to pull guard.
Blackburn tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Phoenix avoids it.
Blackburn blocks a body shot from Phoenix.
Phoenix pushes Blackburn back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Phoenix lands with a short punch from the clinch.
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!
Phoenix has a couple of punches blocked by Blackburn.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phoenix tries to throw a body punch but Blackburn avoids it by throwing Phoenix back against the cage.
Blackburn scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Blackburn blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Blackburn throws a knee to the head but misses.
Phoenix misses with a short punch on the inside.
Blackburn blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Phoenix doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Blackburn lands with a right to the head.
Blackburn blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Phoenix lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Blackburn blocks a body shot from Phoenix.
Blackburn lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Phoenix lands a nice shot to the body.
Phoenix blocks a body shot from Blackburn.
Blackburn avoids the elbow strike from Phoenix, against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Phoenix.
Blackburn prevents a body shot from Phoenix.
Blackburn is trying to pull guard but Phoenix has him pressed against the cage.
Phoenix softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A head punch on the inside from Phoenix fails to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Phoenix blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Parker Phoenix seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Blackburn decides to pull guard.
Phoenix trying to control but Blackburn is working from the bottom.
Phoenix is looking to stand up but Blackburn won't let him.
Phoenix trying to control the position from guard on top but Blackburn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Blackburn is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Phoenix rolls with it to try and escape but Blackburn cranks on the arm and Phoenix is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Lugh Blackburn!