PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Emiliano Blackburn (ranked 1950 p4p, 1449 weight class) and Gareth Keenan Jr (ranked 176 p4p, 134 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.

Blackburn
vs
Keenan Jr

168 cm
31
150
21 - 12 - 0

179 cm
33
150
15 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

IC&E Nutrition (& 10% Laundry)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Emiliano Blackburn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gareth Keenan Jr!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Colin Fotheringham and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blackburn lands a really nice looking cross but Keenan Jr seems unphased.
Blackburn wants to clinch.
Blackburn sets himself, and Keenan Jr steps forward looking for the clinch! Blackburn avoids it this time.
A combination from Blackburn does no damage.
Blackburn tries to bum rush Keenan Jr with a series of wild strikes but Keenan Jr uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The fighters circling - Blackburn throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Keenan Jr looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Keenan Jr pivots, looking for a leg kick but Blackburn is out of range and Keenan Jr settles back down.
Blackburn waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Keenan Jr.
Keenan Jr moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Keenan Jr scores with a leg kick.
Blackburn darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Blackburn tries to clinch but Keenan Jr moves out of range.
Blackburn throws a sloppy body shot
and Keenan Jr counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A lazy body kick from Blackburn
and Keenan Jr counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Blackburn thinking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackburn tries to clinch up but Keenan Jr circles away and keeps his distance.
Keenan Jr keeps the fight on the outside.
Blackburn goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
The fight stays on the outside here - Blackburn looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Keenan Jr scores with a shot to the body.
Blackburn lands with a hook. Keenan Jr tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Keenan Jr avoids the body shot from Blackburn.
Blackburn is trying hard to land a takedown here. Keenan Jr sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Blackburn misses with a looping right.
Blackburn misses with a left hand
and Keenan Jr counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Blackburn lands with an uppercut that bounces Keenan Jr off the cage and back into range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keenan Jr wants to clinch.
Blackburn tries to clinch there but Keenan Jr circles away.
Keenan Jr swats away the attempt to clinch by Blackburn.
Blackburn tries to close the distance and clinch but Keenan Jr swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Blackburn throws a leg kick that is checked
and Keenan Jr counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Blackburn thinking.
Blackburn avoids a kick to the body.
Blackburn looks to score with a jab to the body but Keenan Jr is just out of range.
Keenan Jr takes a swing at Blackburn's ribcage but misses.
Blackburn lands with an overhand left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Blackburn clinches up with Keenan Jr and pushes him back against the cage.
Keenan Jr scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Blackburn taking a breather.
Keenan Jr jumps guard but Blackburn stands there with Keenan Jr around his waist. Keenan Jr gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Keenan Jr is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Blackburn is defending well.
Keenan Jr tries to pull guard but Blackburn holds him up against the cage and eventually Keenan Jr drops back down to his feet.
Emiliano Blackburn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gareth Keenan Jr.
Blackburn has a couple of punches blocked by Keenan Jr.
Keenan Jr is trying to drag Blackburn to the mat but Blackburn just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Blackburn's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Blackburn fails to land with a series of punches.
Keenan Jr swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Blackburn misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Keenan Jr.

Blackburn changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Keenan Jr looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn wants to stand but Keenan Jr is controlling his arm.
Keenan Jr is looking for a sweep.
Keenan Jr manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Keenan Jr wants to take a breather but Blackburn is having none of it.

Keenan Jr is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Keenan Jr looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Keenan Jr seems to be looking for submissions.
Keenan Jr wants to take a breather but Blackburn is having none of it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Emiliano Blackburn dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Blackburn throws out a loose jab but Keenan Jr uses good head movement to avoid it.
Blackburn lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Keenan Jr avoids the body shot from Blackburn.
Blackburn ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Emiliano Blackburn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Blackburn fails in his attempt to clinch.
Blackburn scores with a sloppy right hand. Keenan Jr should have avoided that one.
Keenan Jr connects with a nice looking jab.
Keenan Jr fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blackburn fails in his attempt to clinch.
Keenan Jr is trying to counter with his kicks.
Blackburn connects with a solid leg kick.
Blackburn moves out of range of the body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackburn shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Keenan Jr but Keenan Jr pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Keenan Jr steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Blackburn shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Keenan Jr defends it nicely.
Keenan Jr is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Blackburn misses with a left hand
and Keenan Jr counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A shot to the body from Blackburn misses

and Keenan Jr counters by moving into the clinch.
Blackburn has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Keenan Jr jumps guard but Blackburn turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Blackburn lands a shoulder strike.
Keenan Jr blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Blackburn's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Keenan Jr uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Blackburn.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Keenan Jr! But no joy.

Keenan Jr gets caught napping as Blackburn dives in and scores a takedown. Keenan Jr manages to retain guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keenan Jr working a defensive guard but Blackburn passes into half guard.

Keenan Jr looking for a kimura from the bottom but Blackburn passes into side control!
We've been informed that Keenan Jr has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Keenan Jr manages to get back to half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Keenan Jr trying to control but Blackburn postures up.
Keenan Jr gets full guard.

Blackburn is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Keenan Jr has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Blackburn is looking to defend but Keenan Jr has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Blackburn! Keenan Jr pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Blackburn taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Gareth Keenan Jr!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Gareth Keenan Jr made sure he mentioned H!lo, along with how happy he was to win his fight.