PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Cory McDanver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kip Blackstone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

McDanver
vs
Blackstone

165 cm
20
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
22
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cory McDanver!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kip Blackstone!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Robert Twigg and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blackstone dodges the punch combination from McDanver.
Nice takedown defense from McDanver. No joy for Blackstone on that attempt.
McDanver misses with a two punch combination.

McDanver darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
McDanver seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Blackstone is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Blackstone looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackstone wants to get back to full guard.
Blackstone moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Blackstone not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Blackstone looking for a sweep. Not yet Blackstone, not yet.
Blackstone working a defensive guard but McDanver passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
McDanver is taking a breather. Blackstone 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.
Blackstone works his way to full guard. Good work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McDanver forces his way into half guard.

McDanver decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Blackstone looks gassed!

McDanver has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McDanver breaks from the clinch.
Blackstone with a lazy takedown attempt
and McDanver counters with a low kick, right behind Blackstone 's knee.
McDanver throws a hook but Blackstone avoids it easily.
McDanver tries to work over Blackstone's front leg with a kick but Blackstone checks it.
McDanver tries to clinch up.
Blackstone circles away from the clinch attempt.
Blackstone slips a jab from McDanver.
Blackstone fails to land with a series of punches.
Blackstone shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and McDanver counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Cory McDanver has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kip Blackstone.
Blackstone is pressing down on McDanver's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
McDanver controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blackstone looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but McDanver puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
McDanver knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Blackstone on the ground.
Blackstone slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
McDanver not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

McDanver throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
McDanver shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Blackstone but Blackstone pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Blackstone looks for a takedown but McDanver sprawls well.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
McDanver tries to clinch there but Blackstone circles away.
Blackstone wants to clinch up but McDanver keeps it at a distance.
Cory McDanver seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McDanver with a lazy takedown attempt

and Blackstone counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for McDanver!
McDanver avoids a series of strikes thrown by Blackstone.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Blackstone wants to control the pace but McDanver is squirming around nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackstone won't let McDanver get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
McDanver is looking to improve his position but Blackstone isn't that keen on the idea.
You get the feeling that McDanver really doesn't like being in this position too much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
McDanver tries to hold on but Blackstone pushes him away.
McDanver is trying desperately to improve position.
McDanver wants to hold on but Blackstone pushes him away.
McDanver keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Blackstone misses with a head shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Blackstone swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and McDanver is now in Blackstone's guard. A big mistake from Blackstone there, giving up the dominant position!
McDanver showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Blackstone manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blackstone wants to control the pace but McDanver is squirming around nicely.
McDanver is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Blackstone stands up from mount. Strange move.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kip Blackstone showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

McDanver lands a jab followed by a vicious hook that sends Blackstone sprawling to the canvas. McDanver follows him down, looking for the kill. Can Blackstone hang on?

Blackstone is rocked!

It looks like Kip Blackstone has been cut.

McDanver decides to stand and escape the position.
Blackstone is still on wobbly legs! Can McDanver finish him?
A jab from McDanver misses.
Blackstone seems to have recovered his senses.
McDanver misses with a few strikes there.
Blackstone shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has McDanver pinned against the cage. McDanver gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Blackstone checks the leg kick nicely there.

McDanver has Blackstone up against the cage in a clinch.
Blackstone takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
McDanver looking to stall.
McDanver wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackstone lands an elbow inside that McDanver shrugs off.
McDanver tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

McDanver drags the fight down to the ground.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Blackstone wants to control from the top but McDanver keeps moving.
McDanver trying to control the position here.
McDanver can't keep his opponent in guard - Blackstone advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
McDanver is staying active underneath Blackstone, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
McDanver looks like he's trying to stand up.
McDanver wants to improve his position but Blackstone is controlling well.
McDanver is trying to maintain the position but Blackstone is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blackstone is controlling the pace.
McDanver tries to kick Blackstone off but Blackstone keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
McDanver is not content to let Blackstone control the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

McDanver fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Blackstone sprawls well initially but McDanver persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
McDanver is taking a breather. Blackstone 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.
Blackstone works his way to full guard. Good work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cory McDanver showed his dominance in that final round.
Well McDanver 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cory McDanver!