PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kenny Blankenship (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rickson Paiva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Blankenship's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Dare to be Stupid. Paiva is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: 2001 : Oddysey. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Blankenship
vs
Paiva

186 cm
21
196 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

180 cm
22
195 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kenny Blankenship!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rickson Paiva!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Emerson Jorge and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blankenship misses with the combination.
Blankenship connects with a single shot there.
Blankenship throws a solid leg kick but Paiva takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Blankenship.
Kenny Blankenship seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Blankenship tries to bum rush Paiva with a series of wild strikes but Paiva uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A head kick misses from Blankenship.
Blankenship misses the shot to the body.
Paiva has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Paiva there as he acknowledges the shot.
Blankenship misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paiva takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Blankenship scores with a jab to the body.
Blankenship throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Paiva.
Blankenship misses with a straight right.
Blankenship throws a right and a left that both miss.
A big right from Blankenship misses.
Paiva bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Blankenship swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paiva looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Blankenship stuffs the takedown.
Blankenship jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Blankenship misses with a looping right.
Some wild striking there from Blankenship.
Blankenship jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paiva looks for a takedown but Blankenship sprawls well.
Kenny Blankenship has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rickson Paiva.
Blankenship throws a right and a left that both miss.
Paiva tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Blankenship swivels and escapes.
Horrible takedown by Paiva or perhaps it was just good defense by Blankenship which made him look bad.
Blankenship looks to land a left hand but Paiva moved out of range nicely.
Blankenship misses the shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Paiva shoots for a takedown but Blankenship saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Blankenship swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Blankenship is breathing heavily.
Paiva shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Blankenship as he avoids it easily.
Blankenship throws a hook to the side of Paiva's head but Paiva sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Paiva changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Blankenship looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Paiva sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Blankenship is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Paiva cracks Blankenship with a big elbow.
Blankenship knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Paiva on the ground.

Paiva looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Blankenship manages to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenny Blankenship dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Paiva keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A combination from Blankenship does no damage.
Blankenship misses with a body shot.
Paiva shoots in but no luck this time.
Paiva keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Blankenship throws out a loose jab but Paiva uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blankenship throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Blankenship throws out a loose jab but Paiva uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blankenship misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Paiva.
Paiva fails to land the takedown.
Paiva showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Blankenship.
Paiva shoots in looking for a takedown. Blankenship tries to sprawl out of it but Paiva keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Blankenship manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kenny Blankenship has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rickson Paiva.
Blankenship scores with a three punch combo!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Blankenship tests Paiva's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Blankenship moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Blankenship waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Paiva.
Blankenship misses with a wild combination.
Blankenship misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Paiva drives through with a takedown into guard.
Paiva passes Blankenship's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Paiva works his foot free and advances to mount.

Paiva looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Blankenship trying desperately to get to his feet.
Blankenship tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Paiva swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Blankenship is now in Paiva's guard. A big mistake from Paiva there, giving up the dominant position!
Paiva wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Paiva looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Blankenship gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Blankenship throws a series of punches but Paiva avoids them all with ease.
Paiva shoots for a takedown but Blankenship saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Paiva shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Blankenship but Blankenship pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Blankenship swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Blankenship throws a looping overhand right but Paiva ducks down to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenny Blankenship dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Blankenship pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Blankenship throws a head kick but Paiva moves out of range.
Blankenship will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Blankenship stuffs the takedown attempt from Paiva. Paiva gets slowly back to his feet.
Blankenship attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Blankenship, as that shot connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paiva avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kenny Blankenship is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Blankenship connects with a jab.

Paiva drives through with a takedown into guard.
Paiva stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Blankenship swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Paiva throws a big right hand that misses.

Paiva is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Blankenship wants to stand and escape but Paiva is having none of it.
Paiva advances to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Paiva is working for a submission of some sort.

Paiva is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Paiva is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Blankenship still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Blankenship has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!

Blankenship stands up.

Paiva darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Paiva is working for a submission of some sort.
Paiva wants to pass the guard but Blankenship is defending well.
Paiva throws a strike but Blankenship avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Paiva prevents Blankenship from getting back to his feet.
Paiva tries to free his leg and advance position but Blankenship is retaining full guard.
Blankenship wants to stand up but Paiva is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Paiva is looking to work some ground and pound but Blankenship has wrist control.

Paiva has gone for a leg lock! Blankenship slips out almost immediately though and dives into Paiva's guard.
Blankenship is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blankenship slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Paiva.

Blankenship postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Paiva to stand up.
Blankenship walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Paiva checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Rickson Paiva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Blankenship throws a lazy right hand but Paiva sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenny Blankenship showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Blankenship, 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kenny Blankenship!
Kenny Blankenship is the new middleweight champion!