PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rico Blake (ranked 24894 p4p, 617 weight class) and Mickey Oneil (ranked 5081 p4p, 473 weight class). Rico Blake has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Blake
vs
Oneil

186 cm
22
170 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

178 cm
24
182 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rico Blake!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mickey Oneil!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Sandra Marshall and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Oneil gets caught napping as Blake dives in and scores a takedown. Oneil manages to retain guard.
Oneil is looking to stand back up but Blake counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Oneil.
Oneil is trying to stand up here but Blake is controlling him well.
Oneil is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Oneil can do anything to dispel that myth.
Blake is trying to control the action in half guard but Oneil is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Blake in particular looking to stall.
Oneil blocking the ground and pound attempt from Blake.
Oneil tries to kick Blake off but Blake keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Blake escapes and gets back to his feet.
Mickey Oneil seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Oneil fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Blake fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
We've been told by Blake's head coaches at ELITE Island Gym - 19 Elite Coaches that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Oneil throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Oneil throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Oneil throws a body punch but Blake moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Blake.
Blake tries to clinch up but Oneil circles away and keeps his distance.
Oneil connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Oneil swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Oneil's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Oneil duly obliges.
A left lands for Oneil.
Blake tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Oneil swivels and escapes.
Blake tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Oneil defends well and Blake ends up having to push Oneil into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Oneil lands a nice hook to Blake's body. Blake takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Oneil lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Blake wants to slow Oneil down by chopping away at his legs.
Oneil slips under a jab from Blake.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Oneil bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

Blake gets the takedown into side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Blake.
Oneil is pushing Blake's head away, looking to escape. Blake manages to hold on to the position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oneil bucks up and tries to throw Blake off but instead Blake has got his back!
Oneil is trying to stand back up.

Blake looking for the RNC.
Blake tries to keep control of the position but Oneil is staying busy.
Oneil trying to get back to his feet but Blake is in full control for now.
Blake 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.
Oneil prevents Blake from getting a body triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oneil is trying to get back to his feet but Blake has full control of the position and if anything, Oneil has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Oneil staying busy and making it hard for Blake to control.
Oneil is trying to stand back up.
Blake tries to get the hooks in deep but Oneil pushed the leg off.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Blake is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Oneil is trying to get back to his feet but Blake has full control of the position and if anything, Oneil has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blake wants to control but Oneil is keeping busy.
Oneil is trying to stand back up.
Blake tries to get the hooks in deep but Oneil pushed the leg off.
Oneil is trying to stand back up.
Oneil is keeping busy.
Oneil trying to get back to his feet but Blake is in full control for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mickey Oneil will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Oneil throws a right and a left that both miss.
Blake looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Blake tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Oneil manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Blake changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Oneil tries to avoid it but Blake manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Oneil to the ground. Oneil escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Blake moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Oneil cracks Blake with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Oneil wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Oneil punishes Blake's body with a nice straight punch.
Oneil lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Oneil scores with a punch to the head.
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!
Blake avoids the body shot from Oneil.
Blake is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Oneil.
Blake has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Blake there as he acknowledges the shot.
Blake throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Oneil lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Oneil has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Blake looks to throw the jab but Oneil is out of range.
A left and a right from Oneil both land. Nice combination.
Oneil misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blake throws a half hearted mid kick.
Oneil has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Blake misses with a looping left.
Blake drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
A big left from Blake misses.
Oneil cracks Blake with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Blake looks to land a right hand but Oneil moved out of range.
Oneil with a nice cross.
Mickey Oneil is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Blake throws a nice looking combination but Oneil bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Blake is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Blake shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Oneil defends it nicely.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Oneil! But no joy.
Rico Blake is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Oneil's jab looks to have found its range, popping Blake under the eye.
Oneil's corner calls for a 1-2. Oneil obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Oneil scores with a hook to the body. Blake takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Oneil throws a body shot but no joy.
Oneil scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

Oneil gets caught napping as Blake dives in and scores a takedown. Oneil manages to retain guard.
Blake won't allow Oneil to get back to his feet.
Blake is standing up over Oneil. Oneil looks to escape but Blake dives into side control.
Blake has knee on belly and moves into mount.

Blake looking for a guillotine from mount but Oneil is having none of it.
Oneil is trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blake can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Oneil is looking to escape.
Oneil is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Blake punching from mount but Oneil doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oneil trying desperately to get to his feet.
Oneil is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Blake won't let Oneil get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Blake wants to control the pace but Oneil is squirming around nicely.
Blake is really struggling to control Oneil but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Oneil is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Blake can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Oneil is looking to escape.
Oneil tries to buck Blake off but he can't manage it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey Oneil showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Oneil ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

Oneil closes the distance and pushes Blake back into the cage.
Oneil putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Blake in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Oneil lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Oneil.
Oneil lands a nice uppercut.
Blake's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Oneil tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Blake avoids it.
A short body shot lands from Oneil as the two fighters clinch.
Oneil lands a shoulder strike.
Oneil lands with a short punch from the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Still in the clinch, Oneil scores with a nice short uppercut.
Blake blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Blake tries to pull guard but Oneil won't allow it.
A right hand to the body from Oneil.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oneil lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Blake or not.
Oneil lands with a right to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Oneil.
A short right from Oneil on the inside.
Oneil lands a left hand.
Mickey Oneil seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Oneil lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Oneil scores with a shoulder strike.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Oneil creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Oneil lands a hook to the side of the head.
Oneil lands with a right to the head.
Blake avoiding damage as Oneil throws knees to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Oneil misses with a punch on the inside.
Blake's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Blake tries to break free but Oneil pushes him back against the cage.
Oneil lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blake avoids a wild elbow strike from Oneil.
A short uppercut from Oneil.
Blake's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Oneil pushes Blake back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Blake blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Oneil lands with a short shot to the head.
A short uppercut from Oneil.
Still in the clinch, Oneil scores with a nice short uppercut.
Oneil works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Blake tries to break free but Oneil pushes him back against the cage.
Oneil softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Blake takes a shot to the head.
Oneil lands on the inside with an uppercut.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Oneil just misses with a elbow thrown towards Blake's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oneil swings wildly with an uppercut but Blake uses good head movement to avoid it.
Oneil misses with the head strike.
Oneil tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Oneil breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Oneil lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Blake at a distance.
Blake walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Blake looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Oneil is looking for the big counter here.
Oneil scores with a one two! Blake had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Blake with a poor takedown
and Oneil counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rico Blake. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blake fails with a takedown attempt.
Oneil looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blake doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Mickey Oneil is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Blake misses with a body shot.
Oneil paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Blake misses with a takedown
and Oneil connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Oneil's jab looks to have found its range, popping Blake under the eye.
Blake takes one to the chin there.
Oneil throws a right hand that Blake ducks under and follows up with a left that Blake also avoids with ease.
Oneil cracks Blake with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Blake throws a leg kick but Oneil sees it coming and checks it nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Blake with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Oneil to score with a decent uppercut.
Oneil fails to land with a series of punches.
Blake swings for the body but Oneil moves out of range.
Rico Blake has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Oneil lands with a right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mickey Oneil comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Oneil winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 David Hoff scores the fight 27:29
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 26:30
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mickey Oneil!