PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rodney Blake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zoe Washburn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rodney Blake could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Zoe Washburn's chin.

Blake
vs
Washburn

183 cm
32
179 lbs
17 - 11 - 1

180 cm
33
177 lbs
26 - 21 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rodney Blake!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zoe Washburn!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Daniel Cesar and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blake fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Nice body punch from Blake.

Blake takes the fight into the clinch.
Blake lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Washburn gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Washburn throwing shots but Blake is blocking nicely.
Washburn throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Washburn thows a huge punch but Blake dodges it nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Washburn is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Washburn is trying to control the action in half guard but Blake is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Blake blocking the ground and pound attempt from Washburn.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blake wants to improve his position but Washburn is controlling well.
Washburn throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Washburn missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Washburn trying to control from half guard but Blake is working away.
Blake tries to roll over but Washburn keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zoe Washburn has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Blake misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Washburn.

Blake clinches up against the cage.
Washburn blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Washburn works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Washburn distracts Blake with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Washburn working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Blake wants to get back to his feet but Washburn is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Washburn stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Blake swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Washburn passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Washburn wants to control but Blake is keeping him busy.
Washburn creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Blake sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Washburn wants to lay and pray for a moment but Blake keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Washburn sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Blake is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Washburn throws an elbow but Blake slips to the side and avoids it well.
Blake managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Washburn.
Blake wants to control but Washburn postures up.
Washburn wants to control but Blake is keeping him busy.
Washburn has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Washburn lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zoe Washburn dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Washburn tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Blake defends well and Washburn ends up having to push Blake into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Washburn wants a takedown.
Washburn is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Blake is defending well.
Rodney Blake has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zoe Washburn.
Washburn is looking to take this one to the mat.
Washburn is trying to pull guard but Blake turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Washburn jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Blake walks away with a smile on his face. Washburn gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Washburn's coach down at Franklin D. Bluth Memorial Supergym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Washburn's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Washburn moves away from the strike by Blake.
Blake misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Washburn.
A shot to the liver by Blake. Beautiful body shot.
That kick from Blake tenderised Washburn's leg. Washburn is trying to keep his angry face on.

Blake has taken the fight to the clinch.
Blake swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Washburn tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Blake smiles and moves away.
Blake throws a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blake stuffs the takedown.
Blake scores with a hook.

It looks like Zoe Washburn has been cut.
Washburn defending well as Blake loads up on a big left hand.

Washburn rushes Blake and presses him up against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Washburn.
Washburn is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Blake is keeping busy.
Blake misses with a hook from the clinch.
Washburn tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Blake smiles and moves away.

Washburn moves into range and clinches up with Blake.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Washburn is trying to pull guard but Blake has him pressed against the cage.
Blake is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Blake working aggressively here.
Blake pushes Washburn back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A short left from Washburn.
Washburn has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Blake after a bit of a struggle.
Blake lands a left hand that snaps the head of Washburn backwards.
Blake misses with the head strike.
Washburn prevents a body shot from Blake.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Washburn.
Washburn tries to stall but Blake uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Washburn has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Blake is trying to keep an underhook but Washburn manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Washburn is looking to stall here but Blake recovers full guard.
Washburn throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Washburn is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Washburn works over Blake with some ground and pound from guard.
Blake keeping moving, preventing Washburn from controlling successfully.
Blake looking to control.
Washburn wants to control from the top but Blake keeps moving.
Washburn makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Washburn trying to control the position from guard on top but Blake is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Blake is looking to stand up but Washburn isn't so interested in that idea.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Washburn bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Blake has taken the fight to the clinch.

Blake breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Zoe Washburn will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Zoe Washburn's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A lazy body kick from Blake
and Washburn counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Blake throws a big shot that misses.
Washburn takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Nice defenses there by Washburn.
We've been told by Blake's head coaches at Soco na mãe - Stand Up Striking that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Blake throws the kick towards the body but Washburn avoids it.

Blake has Washburn up against the cage in a clinch.
Blake throws a head punch that misses.
Washburn blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Blake prevents the takedown attempt.
Washburn drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Washburn pulls Blake into guard.
Washburn is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Washburn throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Blake trying to control but Washburn is working from the bottom.
Washburn pulls Blake in close to prevent any damage.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

We're going to have a standup here because Rodney Blake wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Blake throws an overhand right that lands on Washburn's shoulder, as Washburn tries to avoid the shot.
Washburn fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Blake throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Blake jabs at Washburn's body.

Blake moves into range and clinches up with Washburn.
Blake misses with a hook from the clinch.
Washburn can't find room to land a body shot as Blake controls the action.
Blake prevents a body shot from Washburn.
Blake lands a nice uppercut.
Washburn drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Blake gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Rodney Blake has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zoe Washburn.
Washburn has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Blake is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Washburn blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Washburn goes for a takedown attempt but Blake pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Washburn throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blake looks to score with a jab to the body but Washburn is just out of range.

Blake closes the distance and clinches.
Washburn digs a right hand underneath Blake's ribcage. Blake let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Washburn is struggling to control the position.
Blake misses with some punches.

Washburn has picked Blake up - he's going for a ride! Washburn dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Washburn throws a strike but Blake avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Washburn trying to control the position from guard on top but Blake is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Washburn might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Blake haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Washburn gets to his feet. Blake looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Zoe Washburn is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rodney Blake seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Blake misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Washburn.
Rodney Blake has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Blake misses with a body kick.

Blake takes the fight into the clinch.

Washburn gets a trip takedown into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Washburn thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Blake's head.
Washburn scoring with strikes to the body and head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zoe Washburn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Washburn winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zoe Washburn!
Our winner, Zoe Washburn, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.