PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Billy Irish (ranked 3682 p4p, 23533 weight class) and Oscar Blaydes (ranked 414 p4p, 705 weight class). Blaydes has chosen Black Sunshine - White Zombie as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Irish
vs
Blaydes

169 cm
24
155
6 - 6 - 0

171 cm
24
158
1 - 0 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Billy Irish!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Oscar Blaydes!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Daniel Bishop and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circle momentarily. Irish darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Blaydes takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Blaydes fails with a takedown attempt.
Blaydes misses with a body kick.

Irish tries to keep at a distance but Blaydes has taken the fight into the clinch.
Blaydes blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Irish goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Blaydes misses with a body punch.
Blaydes blocks a punch to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Irish blocking some punches.
Blaydes tries to throw a body punch but Irish avoids it by throwing Blaydes back against the cage.
Our sources have told us that Irish has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Blaydes tries a body shot but Irish blocks it.
A bit of stalling here from Irish.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blaydes lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Irish jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Blaydes walks away with a smile on his face. Irish gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Blaydes tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Irish manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Irish tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Nice body punch from Irish.
Blaydes misses with a body shot.
Irish throws a poor cross that misses
and Blaydes counters with a stiff right hand.
Irish swats away the attempt to clinch by Blaydes.
Irish ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Blaydes moves away.
Irish misses with a jab, cross combination.
A nice side step and Blaydes releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Blaydes swings widly with a right hand
and Irish counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Irish staying out of range there.
Irish throws an overhand right that lands on Blaydes's shoulder, as Blaydes tries to avoid the shot.
Blaydes bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Irish misses with a takedown attempt
and Blaydes connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
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!
Irish throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Blaydes looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Irish misses with a lunging right hand
and Blaydes counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Irish swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Irish works over Blaydes's head and body with a nice combination.
Irish pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Blaydes moves out of range of the strikes.
Blaydes slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Blaydes ducks right into an uppercut from Irish.

Blaydes gets caught flat footed, as Irish shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Blaydes tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Irish trying to control but Blaydes is working from the bottom.
Blaydes bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Irish's 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.
Blaydes chips away with some ground and pound.
Blaydes trying to control but Irish is working from the bottom.
Blaydes looking to pass the guard.
Irish trying to keep a closed guard but Blaydes is proving a slippery customer.
Irish lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Irish postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Blaydes is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Irish, into his guard.

Blaydes with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Irish working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Blaydes.
Blaydes trying to control the position from guard on top but Irish is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blaydes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Blaydes distracts Irish with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Blaydes controlling from the top position.
Blaydes has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Blaydes is pushing down on Irish's leg trying to pass to half guard. Irish is fighting to maintain full guard but Blaydes has managed to sneak the leg through.
Irish is trying to get back to full guard.
Blaydes is controlling the pace.
Irish is not content to let Blaydes control the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Oscar Blaydes will probably get the nod.
That's time! Irish's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Irish avoids the head kick by Blaydes.
An attempted straight right counter from Irish misses the target.
Blaydes misses with a body shot.
Irish throws a series of punches but Blaydes moves out of range.
Blaydes has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Irish throws a big shot that misses.
Blaydes swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Irish connects with the punch.
Irish misses with a body shot
and Blaydes makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Blaydes throws a leg kick which misses Irish's front leg but catches the back leg as Irish tries to avoid it.
Irish tries to move into range but Blaydes moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Irish punishes Blaydes's body with a nice straight punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Irish scores with a crisp jab that stopped Blaydes in his tracks.
Billy Irish is winning the standup battle so far.
Blaydes blocks a jab.
Blaydes throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Irish uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Irish fails to land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Irish uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Blaydes.
Irish on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Blaydes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Irish misses with a body shot.
Billy Irish seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Irish ducks under a wild hook from Blaydes.
A slow jab from Irish misses its intended target.
Irish walks into a stiff left hand from Blaydes.
Blaydes is looking to clinch.
Irish appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Irish throws a poor cross that misses
and Blaydes counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Irish cracks Blaydes with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Irish misses with a body shot.
Irish throws an off balance right hand
and Blaydes makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Irish really felt that one!
Irish checks a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Irish works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Irish throws a big shot that misses.
Blaydes moves away from the strike by Irish.
Blaydes looks to land a right hand but Irish moved out of range.
Irish scores with a jab. Blaydes acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Blaydes lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Irish fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Blaydes circles and sees the opportunity to plant his feet and throw a really nice straight left hand that drops Irish to the canvas! Irish doesn't know where he is but he's trying to survive - Blaydes keeps piling on the pressure and forces the referee to step in! This one is aaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Oscar Blaydes!
An out of breath Oscar Blaydes thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.