PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hank Blair (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Zero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zero comes into a darkened arena with his song building. José the Bronx Rican - Spittin' Narcicism kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Hank Blair could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Max Zero's chin.

Blair
vs
Zero

199 cm
19
269 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

190 cm
25
251 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good elbows
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Hank Blair!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Max Zero!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Donatello Bradman and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blair defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Zero.
Jab by Blair.
Zero tries to close the distance and clinch but Blair swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Blair goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Blair swats away the attempt to clinch by Zero.
Good shot there by Blair.
Blair lands a nice hook to Zero's body. Zero takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Blair swats away the attempt to clinch by Zero.
Blair lands with an overhand left.
Blair avoids a punch combination nicely.
Blair waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Zero.
Blair does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Zero tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Blair swivels and escapes.
Blair scores with a nice head shot.
Zero fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Blair avoids it really well and circles away.
Hank Blair has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Zero.
A jab from Blair misses.
Zero takes a jab right on the kisser.

Zero darts in and clinches Blair up against the cage.
Zero drops down looking for an ankle pick but Blair pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blair scores with the left hand. Zero knows he should have avoided that one.

Blair gets caught flat footed, as Zero shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blair wants to sweep here but Zero controlling him for the moment.
Zero trying to control but Blair is working from the bottom.

Zero drops back, looking for a kneebar! Blair looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Blair looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Blair!
Zero is looking for a sweep.
Blair is looking to take a break and control but Zero is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Zero struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zero on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Blair postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Blair trying to control the position but Zero is working away.
Blair tries to get to his feet but Zero is in the middle of advancing position himself and ends up with Blair in his guard.
Blair wants to control from the top but Zero keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Zero slips a jab and a cross from Blair.
Hank Blair is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zero fails in his attempt to clinch.

Zero closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Zero lands in his opponent's guard.
Zero trying to control the position from guard on top but Blair is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zero accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Blair looking for a sweep. Not yet Blair, not yet.

Zero thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Zero trying to control but Blair is working from the bottom.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.

That's four 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.
Zero won't allow Blair to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zero gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Blair.
Blair is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

Blair tries to keep at a distance but Zero has taken the fight into the clinch.
Zero jumps guard but Blair stands there with Zero around his waist. Zero gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Zero is working for takedown but Blair is calmly controlling the position for now.
Zero is trying to drag Blair to the mat but Blair just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Zero looks gassed!

Blair breaks the clinch.
Zero needs to keep his hands up - Blair had a free shot at his head there.
Zero tries to clinch up but Blair circles away and keeps his distance.
Blair moves into range and connects with a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Blair swats away the attempt to clinch by Zero.
Blair works over Zero's head and body with a nice combination.
Zero tries for a takedown but Blair sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Blair smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Zero shoots for a takedown but Blair saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Blair getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Zero wants to clinch.
Blair misses with a body kick.
Blair connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zero looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Zero rushes Blair and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Zero is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Blair pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Hank Blair has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Zero.
Zero fails to pull guard.
Blair looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Blair wants to break free but Zero has control.
Blair working hard to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blair wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Blair is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Zero fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Zero gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Zero is breathing heavily.
Zero is looking to take a break and control but Blair is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zero is stalling here. Blair is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Zero seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Blair has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Blair trying to control the action but Zero is working from the bottom.

Blair has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Zero avoids a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blair slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Blair cracks Zero with an open hand slap.

Blair gets caught flat footed, as Zero shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Zero passes Blair's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Zero is looking for a kimura but Blair is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Zero to get the leverage.
Blair is trying to get back to full guard.

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

Blair kicks Zero off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blair lands with a nice combination. Zero backs away looking to recover.
Zero tries to clinch up but Blair circles away and keeps his distance.
Blair lands with a straight right. Zero didn't see that one coming.
Blair jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Hank Blair seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zero looks for a takedown but Blair sprawls well.
Blair swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Zero.
Blair fails to land with a series of punches.
Max Zero is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Blair closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Blair swinging wildly here.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Zero.
Blair defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Zero.
Blair with a jab.
Blair lets loose with a powerful body kick. Zero will feel that in the morning.
Blair works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Blair takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Blair lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blair connects with a looping right hand.
Good shot there by Blair.
Decent striking displayed by Blair there.
Blair scores with a sloppy right hand. Zero should have avoided that one.
Blair keeps the fight on the outside.
Zero tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Blair scores with a crisp jab that stopped Zero in his tracks.
Blair clobbers Zero with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Blair lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A cross from Blair lands.
Good exchange - Blair coming out on top.
A jab lands there for Blair.
Blair lands a lovely overhand right.
Blair with a hook.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Blair fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Zero on the side of the head.
Zero takes a jab right on the kisser.
Blair dips to his left and cracks Zero with an uppercut!
Blair moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Blair cracks a nice hook into Zero's ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hank Blair dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Blair with a jab.
Blair circles away from the clinch attempt.
Blair steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Zero.
Blair displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Zero.
Zero bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Zero fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Blair avoids it really well and circles away.
Blair lands an overhand right.
Zero blocks the body kick.

Zero has taken the fight to the clinch.
Zero tries to pull guard but Blair holds him up against the cage and eventually Zero drops back down to his feet.
Hank Blair has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Zero.
Zero changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Blair fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Blair misses with a jab, cross combination.
Blair lands a nice leg kick that just misses Zero's sensitive parts.
Zero takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zero fails in his attempt to clinch.
Blair scores with a spinning back kick!
Zero looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Blair is fending him off so far but Zero persists. Nope, Blair circles away and we're back to standing.
Blair lands with a straight right. Zero didn't see that one coming.
Blair digs a good body shot into Zero's ribs.
Blair tests Zero's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Zero needs to keep his hands up - Blair had a free shot at his head there.
Hank Blair is winning the standup battle so far.
Zero tries to move into range but Blair moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Blair lands a really nice looking cross but Zero seems unphased.
Zero closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Zero has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Zero there as he acknowledges the shot.
Blair moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Zero on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Nice body punch from Blair.
Zero takes one on the button.
No luck for Zero with that takedown attempt.
Blair lands with a hook. Zero tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blair's corner calls for a 1-2. Blair obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Zero is looking to clinch but Blair is avoiding it.
Zero wants to clinch.
Blair throws a right and a left that Zero avoids nicely.
Blair slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Blair scores with a three punch combo!
Blair lands a lovely overhand right.
Blair fakes the leg kick and cracks Zero in the body.
Blair connects with a looping right hand.
Blair misses with a combination

and Zero counters with a single leg into guard. Blair didn't expect that.
Blair trying to keep a closed guard but Zero is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zero is looking to work some ground and pound but Blair has wrist control.

Zero drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Blair dives on top into guard.
Blair tries to stand but Zero is controlling from the bottom.

Blair stands up and waves to Zero to follow him.
Blair with a hook.
Blair cracks Zero with an open hand slap.
Blair stuffs the takedown.
Zero moves out of range of the body kick.
Blair lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blair circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zero closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Blair stuffs the takedown.
Blair connects with a crisp jab.
Blair's corner calls for a 1-2. Blair obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Zero shoots in but Blair avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Zero has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Blair will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Blair fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Zero looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Blair lands a body shot.
Blair cracks Zero with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Zero shoots for a double leg takedown but Blair sprawls well. He's pushed Zero's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Blair lands with a nice combination. Zero backs away looking to recover.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Blair lands a lovely overhand right.
Blair throws a nice outside leg kick.
Nice straight punches there by Blair. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Blair.
Max Zero has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hank Blair is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Blair lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Zero walks into a stiff left hand from Blair.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hank Blair showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Blair, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hank Blair!