PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joe Mama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kyle Blankenhoff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mama
vs
Blankenhoff

186 cm
22
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

Fight King Nutrition

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joe Mama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kyle Blankenhoff!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Thiago Cunha and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mama fails with an attempt to clinch.
Blankenhoff misses with a takedown attempt - Mama sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mama doesn't manage to clinch there - Blankenhoff circles away.

Blankenhoff gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Blankenhoff has his hands on Mama's head, controlling the position.
Blankenhoff bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Mama's guard.
Blankenhoff chips away with some ground and pound.
Mama wants to get back to his feet but Blankenhoff is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Blankenhoff wants to control from the top but Mama keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blankenhoff slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Mama will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Blankenhoff should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Despite being in the dominant position, Kyle Blankenhoff just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mama fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Blankenhoff has his takedown stuffed
and Mama connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Blankenhoff darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Blankenhoff is keen to just control but Mama is a slippery customer.
Blankenhoff trying to pass the guard but Mama defending well.
Mama trying to control from the bottom.
Still in half guard, Blankenhoff seems content to control.
Mama has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Blankenhoff is working away from the top position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blankenhoff slows the pace down in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blankenhoff is keen to just control but Mama is a slippery customer.
Blankenhoff trying to advance position but Mama counters by regaining guard.
Blankenhoff stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mama swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Blankenhoff won't allow Mama to get back to his feet.
Mama is breathing heavily.
Blankenhoff wants to control from the top but Mama keeps moving.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Blankenhoff controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Mama keeping moving, preventing Blankenhoff from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Mama tries to clinch up but Blankenhoff circles away and keeps his distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Blankenhoff.
Joe Mama has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kyle Blankenhoff.

Blankenhoff closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Blankenhoff lands in his opponent's guard.
Mama wants to stand up but Blankenhoff is controlling him.
Blankenhoff trying to control the position from guard on top but Mama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blankenhoff controls from within his opponent's guard.
Blankenhoff wants to control from the top but Mama keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Blankenhoff shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Mama counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Blankenhoff manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Blankenhoff wants to control the pace but Mama is squirming around nicely.
Blankenhoff controlling from mount.
Blankenhoff with a couple of short strikes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mama is looking to improve his position but Blankenhoff isn't that keen on the idea.
Blankenhoff sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Kyle Blankenhoff just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mama tries to clinch there but Blankenhoff circles away.
Blankenhoff has a takedown stuffed.
Joe Mama seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Blankenhoff circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mama tries to clinch up but Blankenhoff circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Blankenhoff drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Blankenhoff showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Mama wants to stand up but Blankenhoff is controlling him.
Blankenhoff is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Mama is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Blankenhoff is controlling him.
Blankenhoff looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blankenhoff slips nicely into half guard.
Blankenhoff slows the pace down in half guard.
Let's hope that Blankenhoff has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Blankenhoff is working for a kimura but Mama is defending it quite comfortably.
Blankenhoff is looking to advance position but Mama won't allow it.
Kyle Blankenhoff has got the better of the ground game so far.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Blankenhoff in particular looking to stall.
Mama wants to improve his position but Blankenhoff is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Well, if Blankenhoff is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Mama wants to get back to his feet.
Blankenhoff wants to pass the guard but Mama is defending well.
Blankenhoff prevents Mama from improving his position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Mama fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mama wants to clinch up but Blankenhoff keeps it at a distance.

Mama fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Blankenhoff sprawls well initially but Mama persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Blankenhoff is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kyle Blankenhoff will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Mama is looking to clinch but Blankenhoff is avoiding it.
Mama moves in looking to clinch but Blankenhoff pushes him off.
Joe Mama is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Blankenhoff feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Blankenhoff wants to control from the top but Mama keeps moving.
Blankenhoff might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Mama kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Blankenhoff is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Mama wants to sweep but no luck.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mama has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Blankenhoff is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Mama.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mama takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Blankenhoff cracks Mama with a big right hand but Mama just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Blankenhoff is looking to take a break and control but Mama is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

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.

Despite being in the dominant position, Kyle Blankenhoff just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Blankenhoff has his takedown stuffed
and Mama counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Mama is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mama with a lazy takedown attempt

so Blankenhoff counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Blankenhoff controlling from the top position.
Blankenhoff wants to control from the top but Mama keeps moving.

Mama uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Blankenhoff avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mama tries to clinch but Blankenhoff moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Mama.

Mama is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Blankenhoff knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Blankenhoff takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Blankenhoff is trying to control Mama's posture but Mama avoids it.
Mama trying to control the position but Blankenhoff is working away.

Mama decides to stand back up. Mama steps back and let's Blankenhoff get back to his feet.
Blankenhoff gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Mama counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Blankenhoff's guard now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blankenhoff controlling Mama's posture.
Blankenhoff avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Mama wants to stand but Blankenhoff has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Joe Mama has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Blankenhoff not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mama loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Blankenhoff looking to control but Mama passes into half guard.
Mama wants to free his trapped foot but Blankenhoff is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Mama wants to stand up but Blankenhoff has a hold of him and won't allow it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Blankenhoff fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Joe Mama.
I think Blankenhoff has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!