PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bloeeeeb Blaaab (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Churchill Downes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Churchill Downes acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Blaaab
vs
Downes

174 cm
25
153 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
149 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite 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 Rio de Janeiro, Bloeeeeb Blaaab!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Churchill Downes!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Thiago Cunha and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Downes with that takedown attempt.
Downes gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Blaaab looking to score a takedown here. Downes is defending well but Blaaab drives through and ends up in Downes's guard.
Blaaab would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Blaaab wants to control from the top but Downes keeps moving.
Blaaab stopping the sweep attempt from Downes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Downes trying to control the position.
Downes lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Downes wants to control from the top but Blaaab keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Downes's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Downes works over Blaaab with some ground and pound from guard.
Blaaab not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Blaaab knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Downes on the ground.

Blaaab working for a triangle but Downes defends it easily.
Downes stands and throws Blaaab's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Downes has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Blaaab is not content to let Downes control the position.
A lull in the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Downes tries to advance to mount but can't.
Downes staying calm.
Blaaab looking for a sweep but Downes has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Blaaab wants to hold on but Downes pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Downes with shots to the head and body - Blaaab looks very uncomfortable down there.
Blaaab gets back to half guard.
Blaaab has hold of Downes's hands but Downes slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Downes slips a nice elbow through Blaaab's hands, connecting with Blaaab's forehead.
Downes controlling the action here.
Downes is trying to control the action in half guard but Blaaab is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Downes lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Downes is keen to just control but Blaaab is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Downes is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Blaaab taking some punishment here, with Downes in his half guard.
Blaaab taking some punishment here, with Downes in his half guard.

Blaaab is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Downes pulls his head out easily.
Downes is nestled in close to Blaaab, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Downes seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Blaaab does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Blaaab makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Blaaab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Churchill Downes dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Downes shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Blaaab pinned against the cage. Blaaab gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Downes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Blaaab moves away.
Downes fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Blaaab avoids it really well and circles away.
Blaaab tries to counter by clinching up but Downes breaks away and moves out of range.
Downes looks to throw the jab but Blaaab is out of range.

Downes shoots in and gets a takedown into Blaaab's guard.
Blaaab is pulling down on Downes's head. It's preventing any offense from Downes, at least for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Blaaab is on top in guard.

Blaaab stands and steps away. Downes gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Downes fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Bloeeeeb Blaaab has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Churchill Downes.

Downes looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Blaaab has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Downes is on him like a limpet, forcing Blaaab back against the cage.
Downes tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Blaaab smiles and moves away.
Blaaab slaps away a takedown attempt from Downes, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Blaaab drives through with a takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Downes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Blaaab stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Downes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Blaaab stopping the sweep attempt from Downes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Downes striking off his back but it's not causing Blaaab any problems.
Downes wants to sweep here but Blaaab controlling him for the moment.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Downes trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Downes dives in for a single leg takedown but Blaaab sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Downes shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Blaaab pinned against the cage. Blaaab gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Downes is breathing heavily.
Downes looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Blaaab clinches.

Downes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Downes shoots in but Blaaab avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Blaaab seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

Blaaab moves into the clinch.

Blaaab pulls Downes into guard.
Blaaab manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Downes manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blaaab stays in close to Downes's body and controls the position.
Downes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Blaaab throws a big right hand that misses.
Blaaab postures up.
Downes wants to sweep but no luck.
Blaaab trying to control the position from guard on top but Downes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blaaab trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Blaaab tries to free his leg and advance position but Downes is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bloeeeeb Blaaab dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Downes will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Blaaab tries to close the distance and clinch up but Downes swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Downes closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Blaaab did well to prevent Downes getting side control.

Blaaab pushes Downes off and gets back to his feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Downes.
A telegraphed right hand from Downes misses the target.
Blaaab tries to close the distance and clinch but Downes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Blaaab tries to close the distance and clinch up but Downes swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Blaaab throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Downes tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Blaaab is in Downes's guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Blaaab slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Downes wants to sweep here but Blaaab controlling him for the moment.
Blaaab wanted to stand there but Downes had control of the position.
Downes bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Blaaab's guard.

Downes slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Blaaab striking off his back but it's not causing Downes any problems.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Downes is in close to Blaaab's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Downes stands and throws Blaaab's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Downes wants to control but Blaaab is keeping him busy.
Blaaab is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Downes slips into full mount, dodging the strikes by Blaaab.
Downes working the ground and pound effectively.
Downes in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Blaaab is desperately trying to improve his position but Downes has a good base and remains in mount.

Downes swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Blaaab is now in Downes's guard. A big mistake from Downes there, giving up the dominant position!
Downes trying to control the position.
Downes throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Downes is trying to keep Blaaab in close.
Downes manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Blaaab manages to get himself to full guard.

Blaaab keeping moving, preventing Downes from controlling successfully.
Downes cracks Blaaab with a solid left hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Blaaab controls Downes momentarily but Downes frees himself.
Downes stands up over Blaaab, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Churchill Downes.
I think Downes 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Churchill Downes!