PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gavin Blackwood (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tien Shinhan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Blackwood's entrance music is Catch Your Breath by CFO$. A fine choice. The crowd seem to be enjoying Shinhan's choice of entrance music: Skillet - Forsaken. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Blackwood
vs
Shinhan

191 cm
19
212 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

191 cm
19
223 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Good elbows
Powerful

Four Aces Nutrition

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gavin Blackwood!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tien Shinhan!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yukihiro Shimada and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blackwood fails with a takedown attempt.
Shinhan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Blackwood closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Shinhan's guard.
Shinhan is trying to keep Blackwood in close.
Shinhan pulls Blackwood in close to prevent any damage.
Shinhan is trying to keep Blackwood in close.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blackwood with a flurry of punches that miss.
Blackwood throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackwood works over Shinhan with some ground and pound from guard.
Blackwood is looking to work some ground and pound but Shinhan has wrist control.
Blackwood postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Shinhan managing to control the position.
Blackwood has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Blackwood content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Shinhan bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Blackwood's guard.

Shinhan won't allow Blackwood to sweep him here.
Shinhan is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Blackwood tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Blackwood utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blackwood looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shinhan is one step ahead there.
Blackwood is working hard here to advance position.
Shinhan's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Blackwood keeping full guard, as Shinhan tries to pass.
Shinhan throws an elbow that misses. Blackwood uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Shinhan's guard. Nice move by Blackwood!

Blackwood has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Blackwood avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shinhan is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Blackwood stopping the sweep attempt from Shinhan.
Shinhan lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Shinhan trying to control but Blackwood is working from the bottom.
Blackwood is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Shinhan is controlling him.
Blackwood manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Shinhan manages to get himself to full guard.

Shinhan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shinhan is still trying to improve position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blackwood throwing strikes but missing.
Shinhan seems keen to control Blackwood's posture.
Shinhan is trying to control the position but Blackwood postures up.
Shinhan seems keen to control Blackwood's posture.
Blackwood wants to control from the top but Shinhan keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shinhan wants to sweep here but Blackwood controlling him for the moment.
Blackwood postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gavin Blackwood dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Blackwood fails with a takedown attempt.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Shinhan lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Blackwood has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Blackwood and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Shinhan throws a sloppy head kick and Blackwood moves out of range easily.
Shinhan connects with a leg kick. Blackwood looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Shinhan tries to clinch but Blackwood is having none of it.
Shinhan swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Blackwood is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blackwood checks a leg kick.
A clash of legs there as Blackwood blocks the low kick.
Shinhan throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Blackwood's head.
Blackwood misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackwood misses with a looping left.
Shinhan throws a low kick but it's checked well by Blackwood.
Blackwood moves out of range of the strikes.
Shinhan throws a hook but Blackwood avoids it easily.
Blackwood lands a lovely overhand right.
A head kick misses from Shinhan.
Blackwood tries to counter with a takedown but Shinhan is quick to defend against it.
Blackwood scores with a crisp jab that stopped Shinhan in his tracks.
Blackwood on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Shinhan. Shinhan obviously looking to wear him down.
Blackwood throws a jab when Shinhan was well out of range.
Blackwood misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Shinhan was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gavin Blackwood. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shinhan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Blackwood checks a low kick from Shinhan.
Shinhan misses with an uppercut.
Shinhan throws a front kick aimed at Blackwood's knee but Blackwood avoids it well.
Blackwood throws a big counter combination but Shinhan scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Shinhan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A low kick from Shinhan is predictable there
and Blackwood counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Blackwood dives in and grabs Shinhan's left leg, looking for a takedown. Shinhan pushes down on Blackwood's head and hops out.
Shinhan throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Blackwood drops down looking for a counter takedown but Shinhan sprawls and moves away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Blackwood misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Blackwood backing away here, and Shinhan unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Shinhan finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shinhan throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Shinhan tries to land a leg kick but Blackwood saw it coming and moves away.
Tien Shinhan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Blackwood fails to land the takedown.
Shinhan uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Blackwood.
Shinhan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shinhan thows a leg kick but Blackwood checks it
letting Blackwood counter with a right hand.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Shinhan lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Blackwood has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Blackwood and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Blackwood feinted with a counter takedown.
Shinhan takes a swing at Blackwood's ribcage but misses.
Blackwood drops down looking for a counter takedown but Shinhan sprawls and moves away.
Blackwood defending well as Shinhan loads up on a big left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shinhan throws a head kick but Blackwood moves out of range.
Shinhan tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Blackwood.
Shinhan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Blackwood changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Shinhan looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Blackwood working the head and body with strikes.
Shinhan gets back to half guard.
Shinhan on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are battling for position here. Shinhan manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Shinhan looking for a guillotine here but Blackwood defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blackwood throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Shinhan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tien Shinhan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Blackwood checks a leg kick nicely.
Blackwood jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Shinhan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Blackwood attempts a counter takedown but Shinhan avoids it well and moves away.
Good work by Blackwood as he checks the leg kick.
A head kick by Shinhan misses

and Blackwood counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Shinhan!
Shinhan taking punishment in the form of punches.

Blackwood working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Blackwood connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Shinhan some visible discomfort.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Shinhan can do anything to dispel that myth.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blackwood working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Shinhan gets back to half guard.
Blackwood winds up and cracks Shinhan with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shinhan controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Blackwood scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Blackwood thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Blackwood is looking to take a break and control but Shinhan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Shinhan wants to control but Blackwood is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Shinhan has hold of Blackwood's hands but Blackwood slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Blackwood slips a nice elbow through Shinhan's hands, connecting with Shinhan's forehead.
Shinhan won't allow Blackwood to pass to mount.
Blackwood thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Blackwood is looking for a kimura but Shinhan is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Blackwood to get the leverage.
Blackwood throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Shinhan wants to control but Blackwood is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Blackwood working the head and body with strikes.
Shinhan wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blackwood looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Shinhan with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Shinhan wants to get back to full guard.
Gavin Blackwood overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Blackwood seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Shinhan is looking to improve his position.
Shinhan is trying to maintain the position but Blackwood is very close to passing his half guard.
Shinhan is positioning himself well to prevent Blackwood advancing to mount.
Blackwood landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Blackwood wants to work for an arm triangle but Shinhan is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Shinhan is pressing down on Blackwood's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Shinhan looking to control.
Blackwood keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Shinhan's head.
Blackwood throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Shinhan holds on and takes a little breather.
Shinhan is trying to keep Blackwood in close.
Shinhan is controlling Blackwood's posture.
Shinhan working a defensive guard here.
Blackwood postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Blackwood in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Blackwood in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Shinhan looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Shinhan is trying to keep Blackwood in close.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Shinhan is on top in guard.

Shinhan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shinhan won't allow Blackwood to sweep him here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Shinhan has gone for a leg lock! Blackwood slips out almost immediately though and dives into Shinhan's guard.

Shinhan looking for a sweep. Not yet Shinhan, not yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gavin Blackwood showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Blackwood 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gavin Blackwood!
Gavin Blackwood thanked the fans post fight for their support.