PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kenny Blankenship (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Burt Reenulds (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Blankenship's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Dead Man's Party. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Blankenship
vs
Reenulds

186 cm
22
196 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

180 cm
23
190 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Organic Peak Performance

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kenny Blankenship!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Burt Reenulds!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Alexandre Firmino and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Blankenship.

Blankenship wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Reenulds, who protects the arm well.
Blankenship lands some shots froms side control.

It looks like Burt Reenulds has been cut.

Blankenship looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Reenulds is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Blankenship is pressing down on Reenulds's thigh, looking to free his foot. Reenulds is holding on for now.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Blankenship lands a nice short elbow.

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

Blankenship decides to return to a standing position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blankenship shoots in but no luck this time.
Kenny Blankenship seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Blankenship tries to close the distance and clinch but Reenulds swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Reenulds stuffs the takedown.
Blankenship is breathing heavily.
Reenulds with a lazy takedown attempt

and Blankenship counters with a nice double leg into side control. Reenulds won't be happy with that.

Blankenship stands up and beckons Reenulds to his feet.
Blankenship shoots and misses
and Reenulds counters with a nice uppercut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kenny Blankenship. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Reenulds decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Reenulds wants to pass the guard but Blankenship is defending well.
Blankenship looks like he's trying to stand up.
Blankenship is not content to let Reenulds control the position.
Blankenship pushes Reenulds off looking to stand but Reenulds dives back in and keeps control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reenulds trying to control the action but Blankenship is working from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Blankenship is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Reenulds jumps into side control!
Blankenship wants to get back to his feet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Jab by Reenulds.

Reenulds closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Reenulds lands in his opponent's guard.
Reenulds trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Blankenship throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Reenulds escapes and throws Blankenship's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Blankenship is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blankenship bucks up and tries to throw Reenulds off but instead Reenulds has got his back!

Reenulds tightening his grip on Blankenship, looking for the choke.
Reenulds trying to control momentarily.
Blankenship trying to get back to his feet but Reenulds is in full control for now.
Reenulds wants to control but Blankenship manages to buck him off and is now in Reenulds's guard! Nice work there by Blankenship!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blankenship postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Blankenship drops back looking for a leg! Reenulds is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Reenulds manages to kick Blankenship off! Blankenship jumps back into Reenulds's guard.
Blankenship has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Reenulds is proving hard to escape from.

Reenulds is looking for a triangle but Blankenship pushes his legs off easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Blankenship working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Blankenship stands up and waves to Reenulds to follow him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kenny Blankenship will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Burt Reenulds's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Blankenship closes the distance looking to clinch

and Reenulds counters with a nice double leg into side control. Blankenship won't be happy with that.

Blankenship throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

Reenulds closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Blankenship wants to improve his position but Reenulds is controlling well.
Blankenship wants to get back to his feet.
Reenulds is looking to advance position but Blankenship won't allow it.
Blankenship is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Reenulds's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Reenulds's back!

Reenulds defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Reenulds turns into Blankenship and is now in his guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Blankenship looking for a guillotine here but Reenulds defends easily.

Blankenship looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Reenulds stops Blankenship from standing up.
Reenulds works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Reenulds tries to pass to full mount but Blankenship defends it.
Blankenship is trying to stand.

Reenulds seems to be looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Blankenship is trying to stand back up but Reenulds is controlling him
Reenulds prevents Blankenship from improving his position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Blankenship closes the distance but Reenulds moves to the side

and Reenulds counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Blankenship!
Blankenship is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Reenulds has control of Blankenship's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Blankenship regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Burt Reenulds has got the better of the ground game so far.

Reenulds has hold of Blankenship's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Blankenship manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blankenship stops Reenulds from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.

Blankenship defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Reenulds.
Reenulds won't let Blankenship get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Blankenship is squirming around, avoiding Reenulds's attempts to control the action.
Reenulds might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Blankenship kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Blankenship slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Reenulds trying to pass the guard but Blankenship defending well.

Blankenship looking for submissions off his back.
Reenulds prevents Blankenship from standing back up.
Blankenship is looking for a sweep. Reenulds is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Reenulds is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Reenulds is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Blankenship doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Reenulds.
Blankenship is refusing to be controlled, as Reenulds sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Burt Reenulds showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Burt Reenulds's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Blankenship tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Reenulds counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Blankenship!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blankenship slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Blankenship tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Reenulds manages to move to mount!

Blankenship defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Reenulds.
Blankenship holds on to Reenulds as tight as he can, avoiding damage.
Blankenship is trying to stand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Reenulds avoids the attempt from Blankenship to control.
Blankenship is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reenulds trying to control but Blankenship is having none of it.
Blankenship really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Blankenship is working hard here to advance position.

Reenulds is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Blankenship has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Blankenship swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Blankenship tries to buck Reenulds off but he can't manage it.

Reenulds is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Blankenship can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Blankenship tries to reverse the position but Reenulds maintains control.
Blankenship trying desperately to get to his feet.
Blankenship tries to reverse the position but Reenulds maintains control.

Reenulds jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Blankenship manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Blankenship is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Reenulds is controlling him well.
Blankenship gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Reenulds prevents Blankenship from standing back up.
Blankenship trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blankenship slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Blankenship has his foot on Reenulds's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Reenulds works his way back into a safe position though.

Blankenship pushes Reenulds off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Blankenship drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Reenulds shoots in looking for a takedown. Blankenship tries to sprawl out of it but Reenulds 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.

Blankenship scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Reenulds is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Blankenship postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Reenulds to stand up.
No luck for Blankenship with that takedown attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Blankenship looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Reenulds closes this distance looking for a takedown but Blankenship circles away.
Blankenship paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Reenulds keeps the fight on the outside.
Blankenship doesn't manage to clinch there - Reenulds circles away.
Blankenship doesn't manage to clinch there - Reenulds circles away.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenny Blankenship showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Blankenship 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Kenny Blankenship!