PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Fortesque (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladimir Blagoev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Fortesque
vs
Blagoev

191 cm
22
194 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
209 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

ZSTAR

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Daniel Fortesque!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vladimir Blagoev!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Valeri Chadov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blagoev tries for a takedown but Fortesque sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Blagoev shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Fortesque as he avoids it easily.
Fortesque gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Blagoev counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Fortesque on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Fortesque tries to get out of the position.
Blagoev looks gassed!
Blagoev trying to pass the guard but Fortesque defending well.
Blagoev looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blagoev not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Fortesque is not content to let Blagoev control the position.
Fortesque is looking for a sweep. Blagoev is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Fortesque is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.
Fortesque wants to hold on but Blagoev pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blagoev working Fortesque over with strikes here.
Blagoev looking to control but Fortesque is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Fortesque knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Blagoev on the ground.

Blagoev jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Fortesque is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Fortesque and Blagoev has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Blagoev trying to control the position but Fortesque is working away.
Fortesque sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Blagoev throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Still in half guard, Blagoev seems content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fortesque looks like he's trying to stand up.
Fortesque gets back to full guard.
Fortesque tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Blagoev postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blagoev chips away with some ground and pound.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Fortesque throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Blagoev looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Fortesque is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blagoev stands and throws Fortesque's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Fortesque tries to buck Blagoev off but Blagoev is having none of it.
Blagoev slows the pace down.
Blagoev wants to control but Fortesque is keeping him busy.
Blagoev scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Fortesque to see if he's OK.

Blagoev has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Fortesque lands with an overhand left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Fortesque or perhaps it was just good defense by Blagoev which made him look bad.
Blagoev shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Fortesque pinned against the cage. Fortesque gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Daniel Fortesque has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vladimir Blagoev.
Blagoev with a lazy takedown attempt
and Fortesque counters with a two punch combo.
Blagoev misses with a takedown attempt
and Fortesque counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Blagoev walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Fortesque will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Blagoev shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Blagoev has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Blagoev controlling the action here.
Fortesque wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Blagoev 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.

Blagoev closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Fortesque is trying to control Blagoev's posture but Blagoev avoids it.
Fortesque is trying to get back to half guard.
Fortesque takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Fortesque tries to buck Blagoev off but Blagoev is having none of it.
Blagoev landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Blagoev is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Blagoev grinds an elbow into Fortesque's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blagoev is working Fortesque over with some ground and pound from side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fortesque can't do much from the bottom here.
Blagoev moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Blagoev is working Fortesque over with some ground and pound from side control.
Fortesque can't do much from the bottom here.
Blagoev trying to control the action but Fortesque is working from the bottom.

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.
Blagoev landing strikes.
Blagoev scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Fortesque to see if he's OK.
Blagoev taking a breather here.
Blagoev lands a nice forearm strike.
Blagoev working the head with strikes.
Vladimir Blagoev has got the better of the ground game so far.
Blagoev lands some shots froms side control.
A lull in the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fortesque is not content to let Blagoev control the position.
Fortesque taking a bit of punishment here - Blagoev scoring with strikes.
A lull in the action here as Blagoev stalls from top position.
Blagoev's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Fortesque tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Blagoev wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

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.
Blagoev wants to control but Fortesque is keeping him busy.

Despite being in the dominant position, Vladimir Blagoev just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Fortesque keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Blagoev shoots and misses

and Fortesque counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Blagoev!
Fortesque raining down shots from the mount!
Fortesque punishing his opponent with strikes.
BOOM! Fortesque connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Blagoev is trying to escape the mount.
Blagoev tries to hold on but Fortesque postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Blagoev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Fortesque's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Blagoev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Fortesque scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Fortesque shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Blagoev pinned against the cage. Blagoev gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Daniel Fortesque is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Blagoev with a poor takedown
and Fortesque counters with a slapping leg kick.
Blagoev takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Fortesque has a takedown stuffed.
Blagoev misses with a takedown attempt

and Fortesque counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Blagoev is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Blagoev is refusing to be controlled, as Fortesque sits in half guard.
Blagoev is looking to improve his position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The fighters are battling for position here. Blagoev manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fortesque working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Fortesque postures up.
Blagoev keeping full guard, as Fortesque tries to pass.
Blagoev throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Blagoev fails with the takedown
and Fortesque counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Daniel Fortesque has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vladimir Blagoev.
Blagoev fails with the takedown

and Fortesque counters with a nice double leg into side control. Blagoev won't be happy with that.
Blagoev is looking to reverse the position.
Fortesque trying to control the position but Blagoev is working away.
Fortesque working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blagoev might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Fortesque kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Blagoev manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Blagoev wants to improve his position but Fortesque is controlling well.
Fortesque is thwarting Blagoev's attempts to control the position.
Blagoev is refusing to be controlled, as Fortesque sits in half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Blagoev misses with a takedown

and Fortesque counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Blagoev makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Blagoev.
Fortesque stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Blagoev swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blagoev pulls Fortesque in close to prevent any damage.
Fortesque controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Fortesque trying to control but Blagoev is working from the bottom.
Blagoev pulls Fortesque in close to prevent any damage.
Fortesque thows a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Blagoev is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Fortesque wants to control from the top but Blagoev keeps moving.
Fortesque postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Blagoev misses with a takedown attempt
and Fortesque counters with a one-two to the body.
Blagoev gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Fortesque counters with a left and a right that stings Blagoev.
Blagoev closes the distance looking to clinch
and Fortesque counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Daniel Fortesque has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Blagoev doesn't succeed with the takedown

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Daniel Fortesque showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Blagoev 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vladimir Blagoev!