PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Howard Blanchard (ranked 9772 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabriel Braganca (ranked 5772 p4p, 495 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Blanchard
vs
Braganca

168 cm
24
162 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

178 cm
22
154 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Howard Blanchard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gabriel Braganca!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Reed Andrews and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Blanchard closes the distance and clinches.

Braganca drags the fight down to the ground.
Blanchard throwing strikes but missing.
Braganca is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Blanchard is controlling him.
Blanchard trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Blanchard tries to stand but Braganca is controlling from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Braganca has his hands on Blanchard's head, controlling the position.
Blanchard in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blanchard working some strikes from top position.
Blanchard would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Blanchard accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Blanchard wants to stand and escape but instead Braganca has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Braganca seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Braganca stops Blanchard from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Blanchard holds on and takes a little breather.
Braganca trying to control the position from guard on top but Blanchard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blanchard preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blanchard wants to stand up but Braganca is controlling him.
Braganca trying to control but Blanchard is working from the bottom.
Blanchard is trying to control the position but Braganca postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blanchard is pulling down on Braganca's head to control his posture.
Blanchard is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Blanchard wants to clinch.

Braganca shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Blanchard manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Braganca trying to control the position from guard on top but Blanchard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Braganca trying to stand up but can't free himself from Blanchard's guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Blanchard trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Braganca dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Blanchard fails with an attempt to clinch.

Blanchard clinches up with Braganca and pushes him back against the cage.

Braganca has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Blanchard is trying to keep an underhook but Braganca manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Braganca is trying to control the action in half guard but Blanchard is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Braganca passes to full mount!
Braganca can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Blanchard is looking to escape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Braganca working for a submission but Blanchard is keeping him at bay.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Braganca can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Blanchard is looking to escape.
Braganca tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Braganca tries to control but Blanchard wriggling away.
Braganca sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Blanchard wants to get back to his feet.
Blanchard wants to hold on but Braganca pushes him away.
Blanchard is trying to stand.
Braganca lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Braganca controlling his opponent.
Blanchard wants to try and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Braganca controlling from mount.
Blanchard tries to hold on but Braganca postures up.
Blanchard really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Braganca is looking to stand but Blanchard has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.

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.
Blanchard wants to hold on but Braganca pushes him away.
Braganca tries to control but Blanchard wriggling away.
Blanchard tries to hold on but Braganca postures up.
Blanchard wants to get back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Blanchard is squirming around, avoiding Braganca's attempts to control the action.
Blanchard is trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Braganca showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Blanchard fails with a takedown attempt.

Blanchard throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Braganca was covering up waiting for the punch and Blanchard finishes the takedown easily into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blanchard missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blanchard being controlled here momentarily.
Blanchard throws a strike but Braganca rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Braganca is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Blanchard is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Blanchard keeping moving, preventing Braganca from controlling successfully.

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.
Blanchard working a defensive guard here.
Braganca trying to control but Blanchard is working from the bottom.
Braganca might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Blanchard haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Blanchard working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Braganca doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Braganca manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Blanchard is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Braganca jumps guard and drags Blanchard to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Blanchard throwing strikes from guard but Braganca blocks nicely.
Blanchard working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Blanchard has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Braganca holds on and takes a little breather.
Braganca controls Blanchard momentarily but Blanchard frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Braganca working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Blanchard.
Braganca avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Blanchard throwing strikes but missing.
Blanchard throwing strikes from guard but Braganca blocks nicely.
Blanchard throws a strike but Braganca rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Blanchard knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Braganca on the ground.
Braganca wants to stand but Blanchard is controlling his posture from full guard.
Braganca takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Braganca sitting in guard here, content to control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Braganca's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Howard Blanchard.
I think Braganca 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gabriel Braganca!