PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Daren Blackwell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cleveland White (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cleveland White has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Daren Blackwell's chin.

Blackwell
vs
White

199 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

186 cm
20
175 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Daren Blackwell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Cleveland White!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

White fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Blackwell sprawls well initially but White persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

White is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Blackwell sees it coming and defends easily.
Blackwell is pressing down on White's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Blackwell wants to stand but White is controlling the position.
Blackwell tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Blackwell has his hands on White's head, controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Blackwell wriggles free and stands up.

White closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

White seems to be looking for submissions.
White throwing shots but Blackwell is blocking nicely.
Blackwell tries to get to full guard but White has control of the leg.
White is looking to advance position but Blackwell won't allow it.
White is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Blackwell defending well though.
Blackwell looks like he's trying to stand up.
Blackwell tries to roll over but White keeps him under control.
Blackwell keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
White passes into side control, despite Blackwell's attempt to control the position.
Blackwell sneaks back into half guard.
White tries to stand but can't do so whilst Blackwell controls his leg.
Blackwell is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of White's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take White's back!

Blackwell has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, White has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Blackwell avoiding White 's attempts to control his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

White defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Blackwell doesn't have the hooks in and White manages to turn into his guard.
White scoring with some ground and pound.
White is working Blackwell over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
White is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
White trying to control the position from guard on top but Blackwell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blackwell has a closed guard, preventing White from standing up.
Blackwell bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in White's guard.

Blackwell working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of White's head.
White utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Blackwell postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
White preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
White controls Blackwell momentarily but Blackwell frees himself.
White avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
White is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
White looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
White working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Blackwell.
Blackwell in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Blackwell throws a strike but White rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

White wants to stand but Blackwell is controlling his posture from full guard.
White controls from within his opponent's guard.
Blackwell is trying to control the position from the bottom.
White scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
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 Daren Blackwell will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

White drives through and clinches with Blackwell against the cage.
Blackwell slowing the pace effectively.

Blackwell manages to pull guard.
White stops Blackwell from standing up.
Blackwell utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Blackwell wants to sweep here but White controlling him for the moment.
Blackwell will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
White missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Blackwell preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
White distracts Blackwell with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Blackwell has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Blackwell manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. White manages to get himself to full guard.

Blackwell works over White with some ground and pound from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Blackwell accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Blackwell preventing the sweep.
Blackwell loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Blackwell lands a couple of elbows.
White lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

White won't allow Blackwell to sweep him here.
White trying to control but Blackwell is working from the bottom.

White stands and steps away. Blackwell gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Blackwell really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
White throws a right and a left that both miss.
As White looks to move away, Blackwell throws a big counter combo but White just gets out of the way.

White drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

White thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
White tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Blackwell manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Blackwell is holding on to half guard well.
White missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
White throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are battling for position here. Blackwell manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
White throws a big elbow that misses.
White with a flurry of punches that miss.
Blackwell has a closed guard, preventing White from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
White throws a big elbow that misses.
White throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Blackwell works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
White stops Blackwell from standing up.
White wants to get up but he can't break Blackwell's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Blackwell keeping full guard, as White tries to pass.
Blackwell seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
White trying to control but Blackwell is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

White changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Blackwell looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Blackwell manages to get back to half guard.
White seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
White thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Blackwell is trying to get back to full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
White trying to pass the guard but Blackwell defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blackwell looks like he's trying to stand up.
White sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Blackwell defending well though.
Blackwell is trying to defend against the ground and pound but White scores with a couple of nice shots.
White sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Blackwell defending well though.
Blackwell avoiding damage under a succession of punches from White.

Blackwell looking for submissions off his back.
White is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
White winds up and cracks Blackwell with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
White missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Blackwell taking some punishment here, with White in his half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
White throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Blackwell keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

White is trying to work for a kimura but Blackwell is defending well.
White lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Blackwell is rocked!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cleveland White showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

White darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Oh Blackwell is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

White is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Blackwell sees it coming and defends easily.
Blackwell seems to have got his legs back now.
White prevents Blackwell from standing back up.
Blackwell keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Blackwell keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blackwell is trying to maintain the position but White is very close to passing his half guard.
Blackwell gets back to full guard.
White throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
White must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
White throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackwell looking to hit a scissor sweep but White is one step ahead there.
Blackwell is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
White has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Blackwell is proving hard to escape from.
White throwing strikes from guard but Blackwell blocks nicely.
Blackwell is pulling down on White's head. It's preventing any offense from White, at least for the moment.
White throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Blackwell works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Blackwell wants to stand up but White is controlling him.
White 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.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
White throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Blackwell works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

White drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and White jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
White trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Blackwell fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

White rushes Blackwell and presses him up against the cage.
White tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

White has picked Blackwell up - he's going for a ride! White dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

White is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Blackwell defends it well.
Blackwell blocking the ground and pound attempt from White.
Cleveland White has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blackwell wants to get back to his feet.
White lands with a punch from half guard.
White wants to get back to his feet.
Blackwell moves into full guard.
White throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Blackwell works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
White throws a big right hand that misses.
White has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Blackwell looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Blackwell has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
White looking to pass the guard.
White stops Blackwell from standing up.

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.
White missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Blackwell 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.
White trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Blackwell seems keen to control White's posture.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Blackwell lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Blackwell trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Blackwell throws an elbow that misses. White uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Blackwell's guard. Nice move by White!

There's a bit of a scramble here and now Blackwell is on top in guard.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
White manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Blackwell manages to get himself to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cleveland White comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well White has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cleveland White!