PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ritchie Blackmore (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Xtanspel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Blackmore comes to the cage accompanied by Sometimes My Opponent Feels Like Screaming. Xtanspel has chosen Whitesnake - Here I go again as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Blackmore
vs
Xtanspel

180 cm
22
193 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

190 cm
28
191 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Powerful

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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ritchie Blackmore!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Frank Xtanspel!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Xtanspel misses.
Frank Xtanspel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Xtanspel misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Xtanspel takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Blackmore thuds his right hand into Xtanspel's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Xtanspel displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Blackmore throws out the jab.
Xtanspel throws a poor cross that misses
and Blackmore counters with a one-two to the body.
A combination from Xtanspel does no damage.
Blackmore uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Xtanspel.
Blackmore throws a right hand that misses
and Xtanspel counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Blackmore slips a jab from Xtanspel.
Xtanspel misses with a double jab
and Blackmore counters with a straight right hand.
Blackmore misses with a kick to the body.
Xtanspel connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Blackmore lands with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xtanspel misses with a shot to the body
and Blackmore counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Xtanspel rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Blackmore counters with a nice uppercut.

Blackmore fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Xtanspel sprawls well initially but Blackmore persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Blackmore looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Blackmore is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Xtanspel doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Blackmore.

Blackmore is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Blackmore looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Xtanspel makes his way to full guard, as Blackmore worked for a kimura.
Xtanspel keeping full guard, as Blackmore tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xtanspel wants to stand but Blackmore is controlling his posture from full guard.
Blackmore working a defensive guard here.

Xtanspel stands and steps away. Blackmore gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Xtanspel connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Xtanspel lands a body shot.
Blackmore throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xtanspel drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Xtanspel throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Xtanspel throws an off balance right hand
and Blackmore counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Blackmore throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Xtanspel throws a hook but Blackmore blocks it.
Blackmore is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Blackmore ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Blackmore avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Xtanspel misses with a hook. Blackmore ducked under it nicely.
Blackmore looks to land a right hand but Xtanspel moved out of range.
Xtanspel lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Xtanspel takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Xtanspel dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Xtanspel misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Blackmore rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Xtanspel moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Xtanspel slips a jab from Blackmore.
Xtanspel misses with a hook
and Blackmore counters with a low kick, right behind Xtanspel 's knee.
A low kick from Xtanspel is predictable there

and Blackmore counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Blackmore.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Xtanspel pulls Blackmore in close to prevent any damage.
Xtanspel is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Blackmore stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Xtanspel swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Xtanspel tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Xtanspel wants to stand and escape but Blackmore is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xtanspel is trying to keep Blackmore in close.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Frank Xtanspel wasn't active enough on the ground.
Xtanspel takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Xtanspel throws a hook but Blackmore avoids it easily.
Xtanspel misses with a left hand
and Blackmore counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Xtanspel avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Xtanspel misses with a hook to the body
and Blackmore counters with an outside leg kick.
Blackmore wants to clinch.
Xtanspel throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Xtanspel misses with a right hand
and Blackmore counters with a nice body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xtanspel misses with an uppercut
and Blackmore counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Xtanspel throws a right hand that Blackmore ducks under and follows up with a left that Blackmore also avoids with ease.
Blackmore takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Xtanspel steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Blackmore.
Blackmore swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Frank Xtanspel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Blackmore misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Blackmore throws a body kick the misses
and Xtanspel connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Xtanspel pivots, looking for a leg kick but Blackmore is out of range and Xtanspel settles back down.
Xtanspel misses with a right hand
and Blackmore counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Blackmore throws a shot from downtown. Xtanspel moves away and avoids it.
Blackmore lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xtanspel scores with a punch to the head.
Blackmore keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Xtanspel.
Xtanspel looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Frank Xtanspel seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A big left from Xtanspel misses.
Xtanspel tries to bum rush Blackmore with a series of wild strikes but Blackmore uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Xtanspel swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Xtanspel swinging wildly here.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Xtanspel!
Blackmore ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Blackmore shoots in and drives through. Xtanspel sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xtanspel moves into range and connects with a jab.
Blackmore throws a sloppy head kick and Xtanspel moves out of range easily.
Blackmore avoids a punch combination nicely.
Xtanspel looks to score with a jab to the body but Blackmore is just out of range.
Xtanspel misses with an uppercut

and Blackmore counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Xtanspel!

Blackmore goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Xtanspel is on top in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Blackmore has his foot on Xtanspel's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Xtanspel works his way back into a safe position though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Blackmore is trying to control the position but Xtanspel postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ritchie Blackmore dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Blackmore throws a lazy right hand but Xtanspel sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Blackmore keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Xtanspel.
Xtanspel misses the jab.
Blackmore throws a right hand that misses
and Xtanspel counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Blackmore swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Xtanspel lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Blackmore circles away quickly and effectively.
Xtanspel throws a big shot that misses.
Blackmore doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Xtanspel cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Xtanspel tried to score with a low kick but Blackmore checks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackmore shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Xtanspel as he avoids it easily.
Xtanspel misses with a straight left.
Xtanspel throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Blackmore counters with a stiff right hand.
Xtanspel throws an off balance right hand

and Blackmore counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Xtanspel's guard now.
Xtanspel is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Blackmore stopping the sweep attempt from Xtanspel.

Blackmore postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Xtanspel is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Blackmore, into his guard.
Xtanspel would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xtanspel preventing the sweep.

Xtanspel stands up from Blackmore's guard - Xtanspel perhaps looking for a knockout.
Xtanspel throws a nice looking combination but Blackmore bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The crowd cheers as Blackmore lands an impressive looking overhand right. Xtanspel doesn't seem phased though.
Xtanspel swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Blackmore connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Xtanspel falls off balance throwing a combination
and Blackmore counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xtanspel looks for the body kick but Blackmore saw that one coming.
A looping hook to the body misses from Xtanspel. Blackmore does a little dance to reset his feet.
Xtanspel sizes up Blackmore with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Blackmore ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Xtanspel misses with a right hand
and Blackmore counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Xtanspel throws an off balance right hand
and Blackmore counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Blackmore throws a lazy uppercut
and Xtanspel counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A slow jab from Blackmore misses its intended target.
Xtanspel throws a combination that misses
and Blackmore counters with a stiff right hand.
A jab from Xtanspel misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xtanspel misses with a series of wild punches.
Blackmore avoids a punch combination nicely.
Blackmore misses with a shot to the body
and Xtanspel counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Blackmore thinking.
Xtanspel misses with a right hand

and Blackmore decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Xtanspel's guard.

Blackmore thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Xtanspel is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Blackmore is controlling him.

Blackmore drops back, looking for a kneebar! Xtanspel looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Xtanspel looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Xtanspel!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Xtanspel decides to stand up, so the ref orders Blackmore to his feet.

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 Ritchie Blackmore.
I think Blackmore has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ritchie Blackmore!