PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nicolas Blankenship (ranked 25037 p4p, 0 weight class) and Danylo Holub (ranked 7014 p4p, 0 weight class). Danylo Holub will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Blankenship
vs
Holub

207 cm
24
162 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

184 cm
21
157 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

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 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Nicolas Blankenship!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Danylo Holub!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Sam Margolis and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holub scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Holub shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Blankenship is trying to defend but Holub finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Blankenship kicks Holub off and gets back to his feet.

Holub changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Blankenship looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Blankenship explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
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!
Holub throws a body shot but no joy.
A left and a right from Blankenship both land. Nice combination.
Holub throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Holub lands a nice hook to Blankenship's body. Blankenship takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Holub keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Blankenship avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Holub tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Blankenship was well out of range. Poor timing from Holub.
Holub uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Blankenship.
Holub throws a fast counter high kick but Blankenship manages to duck under it in time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holub throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Blankenship takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Blankenship throws a lazy uppercut
and Holub counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Blankenship thinking.
Holub darts in trying to clinch
and Blankenship counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Holub thinking.
Blankenship misses with a looping right.
Holub throws a chopping leg kick but Blankenship manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Holub dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Holub misses with a combination

and Blankenship moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blankenship is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Holub has had enough of the clinch but Blankenship keeps him there for the moment.
Blankenship manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Blankenship avoiding damage as Holub throws knees to the body.
Blankenship lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That has opened up Danylo Holub's cut even more.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Holub jumps into guard, dragging Blankenship to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blankenship showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Holub is looking to stand up but Blankenship isn't so interested in that idea.
Blankenship passes Holub's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Blankenship not doing much here.

Blankenship is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's four 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.

Blankenship is working for a submission of some sort.
Blankenship controlling the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicolas Blankenship dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Danylo Holub's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Blankenship with a jab.
Sloppy strikes from Holub. Those never looked like landing.
A nice combination there by Holub.
Holub's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Blankenship connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Holub scrambles back to his feet.
Blankenship misses with an uppercut.
Holub takes one to the chin there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holub fails to land with a series of punches.
Blankenship really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
A lazy left from Blankenship finds it's target.
Holub tries to close the distance and clinch up but Blankenship swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Blankenship scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holub tries to clinch there but Blankenship circles away.

Holub drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Blankenship wriggles free and stands up.
Danylo Holub is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Holub shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Blankenship napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Blankenship explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
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!
A punch combination from Blankenship misses.
Blankenship misses with a few strikes there.
Holub blocks a jab.
Holub looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Holub throws a right hand that Blankenship ducks under and follows up with a left that Blankenship also avoids with ease.
Blankenship changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Blankenship misses with a wild body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Holub tries to sprawl but Blankenship drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Blankenship is working for a kimura but Holub is defending it quite comfortably.
Holub is looking to get back to is feet but Blankenship passes into side control.
Blankenship taking a breather here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Blankenship stands up and beckons Holub to his feet.
Holub throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Holub throws a combination. Blankenship tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Blankenship jabs Holub to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Blankenship works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Nicolas Blankenship is winning the standup battle so far.

Blankenship looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Holub!
Holub wants to get back to his feet but Blankenship is dominant here and he's now got Holub's back!
Holub is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Blankenship is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Holub is defending well though. Blankenship let's go of the attempt for now.
Blankenship is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Holub can do to turn this around?
Holub is trying to remain composed but Blankenship is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.

Blankenship working for the choke.

Blankenship patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Blankenship has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Holub.

Blankenship is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Holub defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicolas Blankenship dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Danylo Holub's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Blankenship closes the distance and pushes Holub back into the cage.
Blankenship pressing his opponent against the cage.

Holub jumps guard.
Nicolas Blankenship overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blankenship controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Blankenship passes Holub's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Blankenship is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Holub is trying to stand back up but Blankenship is controlling him
Blankenship is controlling the pace.
Blankenship working over Holub with some ground and pound. Holub looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Blankenship is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Holub sees it coming and defends easily.

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.
Blankenship controlling the action here.
Blankenship has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Blankenship throwing shots but Holub is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holub pushes Blankenship off looking to stand but Blankenship dives back in and keeps control.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Blankenship in particular looking to stall.
Blankenship drops an elbow to the side of Holub's head.
Well, if Blankenship is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Holub ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Blankenship moves away.

Blankenship gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Holub to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Blankenship is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Holub presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Holub takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holub can't break the clinch.
Blankenship content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Blankenship stalling the fight.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Blankenship.
Blankenship is struggling to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Blankenship manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nicolas Blankenship showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Blankenship has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nicolas Blankenship!