PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dennis Verges (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jake Blake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Verges
vs
Blake

168 cm
24
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Dennis Verges!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jake Blake!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Michael Johnstone and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Verges fails with the takedown.
Blake wants to counter with a clinch but Verges pushes him away.

Verges moves into the clinch.

Blake pulls Verges into guard.
Verges slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Verges tries to free his leg and advance position but Blake is retaining full guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Blake holds on and takes a little breather.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Blake looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Blake pulls Verges in to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blake not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Verges looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Blake trying to keep a closed guard but Verges is proving a slippery customer.

Blake is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Verges is aware though and is defending well.
Verges wants to control from the top but Blake keeps moving.
Blake looking for a sweep. Not yet Blake, not yet.
Blake bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Verges's guard.

Blake pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Verges is keeping the position for now.

Blake thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verges looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Blake wants to control from the top but Verges keeps moving.
Verges tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Blake wants to pass the guard but Verges is keeping the position.
Blake controls from within his opponent's guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Blake trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Blake trying to control the position from guard on top but Verges is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Blake slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verges keeping full guard, as Blake tries to pass.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Verges tries to clinch up but Blake circles away and keeps his distance.
Verges throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Blake's waist but Blake gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Verges off to one side.
Verges fails to land with a series of punches.
Sloppy strikes from Verges. Those never looked like landing.
Blake wants to counter the offense by Verges and move into the clinch position.
Blake shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Verges sprawls well. Verges wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Blake gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blake shoots in looking for a takedown. Verges tries to sprawl out of it but Blake keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Verges manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Blake shoots in looking for a takedown but Verges manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Blake's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Dennis Verges has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jake Blake.

Verges closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Blake tries to pull guard but Verges holds him up against the cage and eventually Blake drops back down to his feet.
Verges 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. Verges gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Blake fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Verges avoids it really well and circles away.
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 Dennis Verges will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Blake bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Verges sneaks out the side door and pushes Blake away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Decent striking displayed by Verges there.
Verges darts in looking for a takedown but Blake gets double underhooks and turns Verges into the cage.
Verges doesn't manage to clinch there - Blake circles away.
Dennis Verges is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Verges has a takedown stuffed.
Verges fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dennis Verges. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verges tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Verges dives in for a single leg takedown but Blake sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Blake drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Verges defends it well.
Verges tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Blake defends well and Verges ends up having to push Blake into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Verges gets caught flat footed, as Blake shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Blake drops back looking for a leg! Verges is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Verges manages to kick Blake off! Blake jumps back into Verges's guard.
Blake wants to control from the top but Verges keeps moving.
Verges is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blake pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Verges is keeping the position for now.
Jake Blake has got the better of the ground game so far.
Blake wants to control from the top but Verges keeps moving.
Verges can't keep his opponent in guard - Blake advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Blake seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Verges is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Jake Blake!