PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Blasko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Gauthier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Blasko
vs
Gauthier

180 cm
20
195 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

188 cm
21
189 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Blasko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alexander Gauthier!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Robert Twigg and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blasko scores with a nice right hand.
Gauthier slips under a jab.
Gauthier throws a poor cross that misses
and Blasko counters with an outside leg kick.
Gauthier doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Blasko counters with a body kick.
Blasko gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Gauthier gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Blasko counters with a head kick that drops Gauthier - he's looking to finish, following his stunned foe to the ground!

Gauthier is rocked!
Blasko takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Gauthier is still in real trouble! Can Blasko finish him?
This has been an exciting period of action!
Blasko prevents Gauthier from improving his position.
Gauthier seems to have recovered his senses.
Gauthier is looking to control Blasko's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gauthier avoid being mounted?
Gauthier pushes Blasko off looking to stand but Blasko dives back in and keeps control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blasko wants to stand up but Gauthier is controlling the position.
Blasko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gauthier keeps working.
Gauthier is trying to maintain the position but Blasko is very close to passing his half guard.
Gauthier tries to get to full guard but Blasko has control of the leg.
Gauthier looks gassed!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gauthier tries to close the distance and clinch but Blasko swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Blasko throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Blasko throws out a powerful jab.
Gauthier throws a sloppy head kick and Blasko moves out of range easily.

Blasko gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blasko wants to get back to his feet but Gauthier is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Gauthier trying to control but Blasko is working from the bottom.
Gauthier won't allow Blasko to get back to his feet.
Gauthier lands a couple of digs.

Gauthier drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gauthier jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Blasko wants to stand but Gauthier is controlling the position.

Blasko looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Gauthier drops back looking for a leg! Blasko is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Blasko manages to kick Gauthier off! Gauthier jumps back into Blasko's guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gauthier misses with a left hand
and Blasko counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gauthier doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Blasko counter with a right hand.
John Blasko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Gauthier.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gauthier lands with an overhand left.

Blasko is rocked!
A big left from Blasko misses.
Oh Blasko is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Blasko shoots and misses

and Gauthier counters with a left and a right that hurts Blasko! He wobbles and falls to the floor - he's in big trouble! Gauthier jumps into full mount!

Gauthier get's back to his feet.
Blasko misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nice straight punches there by Blasko. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Blasko.
Blasko with a poor takedown

and Gauthier counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Blasko's guard now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Gauthier trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Blasko is looking to stand back up but Gauthier counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Blasko.
Gauthier scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Blasko seems to have got his legs back now.
Blasko manages to get back to half guard.
Gauthier is nestled in close to Blasko, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Gauthier winds up and cracks Blasko with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Blasko is staying active underneath Gauthier, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Gauthier is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gauthier lands strikes from half guard.
Blasko is refusing to be controlled, as Gauthier sits in half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

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

Blasko closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alexander Gauthier will probably get the nod.
That's time! Blasko's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Gauthier lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Blasko pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Gauthier tries to close the distance and clinch up but Blasko swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A combination from Blasko does no damage.

Gauthier gets a takedown into half guard.
Gauthier wants to control but Blasko is keeping him busy.
Gauthier tries to pass to full mount but Blasko defends it.
Gauthier passes to side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Blasko is not content to let Gauthier control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blasko tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Gauthier wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gauthier tries to move into full mount but can't pass Blasko's legs.

Gauthier decides to stand back up.
Gauthier has his takedown stuffed

and Blasko counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Gauthier's guard now.

Gauthier throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Blasko controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Gauthier thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Blasko is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Gauthier is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Gauthier has escaped and now he's on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gauthier pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Blasko is keeping the position for now.

Gauthier drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Blasko manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Gauthier has Blasko in his guard.
Blasko trying to control but Gauthier is working from the bottom.
Blasko thows a big elbow that misses.
Gauthier looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Gauthier pushes Blasko off and gets back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A low kick from Gauthier misses
and Blasko counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Gauthier doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Blasko counters with a left and a right that stings Gauthier.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gauthier throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gauthier keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Blasko takes one on the button.
Blasko comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Blasko avoids the head kick by Gauthier.
Gauthier needs to keep his hands up - Blasko had a free shot at his head there.
Gauthier shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Blasko counters with a series of strikes. Gauthier will be more careful next time no doubt.
John Blasko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Gauthier.
Gauthier tries for a takedown but Blasko circles away easily

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gauthier trying to keep a closed guard but Blasko is proving a slippery customer.
Gauthier looking for a sweep. Not yet Gauthier, not yet.
Blasko wanted to stand there but Gauthier had control of the position.

Blasko thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Gauthier uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Gauthier misses with a takedown attempt
and Blasko counters with a low kick, right behind Gauthier 's knee.
Blasko is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Blasko tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Blasko throws a leg kick but Gauthier moved away.
Gauthier has his takedown stuffed
and Gauthier takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Blasko dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Blasko closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Gauthier tries to roll over but Blasko keeps him under control.
Gauthier gets full guard.
Blasko forces his way into half guard.
Blasko is thwarting Gauthier's attempts to control the position.
Gauthier tries to get to full guard but Blasko has control of the leg.
Gauthier slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Gauthier throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Gauthier strikes from his own guard.
Blasko has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gauthier is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Gauthier kicks Blasko off and gets to his feet.
Blasko looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Gauthier scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Blasko is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Gauthier asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Gauthier decides to stand up, so the ref orders Blasko to his feet.
Blasko moves in looking to clinch but Gauthier pushes him off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gauthier fails with the takedown
and Blasko counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Blasko tries to close the distance and clinch but Gauthier swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Blasko rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gauthier moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gauthier looks for a takedown but Blasko sprawls well.
Blasko shoots in but no luck this time.
Gauthier has his takedown stuffed
and Blasko counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
John Blasko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Gauthier.
Gauthier lands a head kick. Blasko smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gauthier misses with a takedown
and Blasko counters with a straight right hand.

Gauthier darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Alexander Gauthier has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gauthier works his way into side control.
Blasko manages to get back to half guard.
Gauthier working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Gauthier wants to lay and pray for a moment but Blasko keeps working.
Gauthier wants to pass the guard but Blasko is defending well.

Gauthier stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Gauthier scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blasko shoots in but no luck this time.
Blasko stuffs the takedown attempt from Gauthier. Gauthier gets slowly back to his feet.
Gauthier fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Blasko avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gauthier shoots and misses
and Blasko counters with a one-two to the body.
Blasko misses with a hook.
A shot to the body from Blasko misses

and Gauthier counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Blasko's guard now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Gauthier comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Gauthier 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 Alan Glass scores the fight for Alexander Gauthier!
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight for Alexander Gauthier!
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight for Alexander Gauthier!

Alexander Gauthier wins by unanimous decision!