PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Benjamin Sigfridsson (ranked 1013 p4p, 126 weight class) and Lugh Blackburn (ranked 1667 p4p, 203 weight class). Blackburn has chosen When the Man Comes Down as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sigfridsson
vs
Blackburn

180 cm
34
192 lbs
18 - 13 - 2

187 cm
39
200 lbs
33 - 24 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Groove Gear
Sportivité

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 13 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Benjamin Sigfridsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 24 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Lugh Blackburn!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Trevor Gratis and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sigfridsson is looking to clinch but Blackburn is avoiding it.
Sigfridsson scores with a kick to the body.

Blackburn gets tackled into the cage by Sigfridsson. Sigfridsson maintains the clinch.
Sigfridsson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sigfridsson misses with a body punch.

Sigfridsson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sigfridsson feints a jab promting Blackburn to slip. Sigfridsson then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Blackburn slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Blackburn takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Sigfridsson fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Blackburn 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.
Sigfridsson throws a nice outside leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Blackburn blocks a low kick nicely.

Blackburn clinches.
Knees to the body from Blackburn.
Sigfridsson managing to block the knees to the body from Blackburn.
Nice body punch from Blackburn - that landed with a thud.
Blackburn misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sigfridsson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sigfridsson throws a punch but it's blocked by Blackburn.
Blackburn throws a head punch that misses.
Sigfridsson misses with a body punch.
Sigfridsson misses with a hook to the ribs.

Sigfridsson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Blackburn changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Sigfridsson throws a leg kick that misses.

Sigfridsson moves into the clinch.
Blackburn blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sigfridsson is trying to break free.
Blackburn lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Sigfridsson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sigfridsson misses with a hook from the clinch.
Blackburn tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Sigfridsson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sigfridsson throws a punch but it's blocked by Blackburn.
Blackburn misses with the head strike.
Blackburn lands a nice shot to the body.

Sigfridsson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sigfridsson pivots, looking for a leg kick but Blackburn is out of range and Sigfridsson settles back down.
Sigfridsson takes a jab right on the kisser.
Sigfridsson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Blackburn moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Blackburn! But no joy.
Sigfridsson lands with a straight right. Blackburn didn't see that one coming.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Sigfridsson clinches with his opponent.
Blackburn tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sigfridsson takes a shot to the head.
Blackburn tries a knee to the head but Sigfridsson blocks it.
Sigfridsson throws a head punch that misses.
Blackburn jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sigfridsson walks away with a smile on his face. Blackburn gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Blackburn dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Lugh Blackburn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sigfridsson keeps the fight on the outside.
It looked like Sigfridsson wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Sigfridsson closes the distance and pushes Blackburn back into the cage.
Blackburn misses with a knee to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Sigfridsson.
Blackburn gets through Sigfridsson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Sigfridsson blocks an uppercut.
Sigfridsson working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Blackburn misses with some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Blackburn fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Benjamin Sigfridsson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lugh Blackburn.
Blackburn throws a punch but it's blocked by Sigfridsson.
Blackburn misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sigfridsson is trying to break free.
A short right from Blackburn on the inside.
Blackburn is trying to pull guard but Sigfridsson has him pressed against the cage.
Blackburn tries to land knees in the clinch but Sigfridsson avoids the damage to the body.
Blackburn lands with a short shot to the head.
Blackburn tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sigfridsson just stands there and leans against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Blackburn.
Blackburn connects with a knee to the head.
Sigfridsson lands with a right to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Blackburn.
Blackburn swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Sigfridsson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sigfridsson lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Sigfridsson.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Blackburn misses with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sigfridsson tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Blackburn is able to avoid easily.
Blackburn takes a swing at Sigfridsson's ribcage but misses.
A big right from Blackburn misses.
Sigfridsson moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Sigfridsson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sigfridsson fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Blackburn.

Sigfridsson has managed to clinch.
Blackburn trying to land knees to the body.

Sigfridsson breaks the clinch.
Blackburn misses with a hook
and Sigfridsson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Blackburn missing with a left hand there. Sigfridsson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sigfridsson tries to clinch up.
Sigfridsson turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A cross from Blackburn lands.
Blackburn misses with a shot to the body
and Sigfridsson counters with a left and a right that stings Blackburn.
Sigfridsson fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Sigfridsson wants to clinch
and Blackburn counters with a right hand to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benjamin Sigfridsson dominated that round.
That's time! Sigfridsson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sloppy strikes from Sigfridsson. Those never looked like landing.
Blackburn throws a shot from downtown. Sigfridsson moves away and avoids it.
Sigfridsson was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Sigfridsson throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Sigfridsson misses with a few strikes there.
Sigfridsson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Blackburn.
It looked like Sigfridsson was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
A good leg kick by Sigfridsson.
Sigfridsson slips a straight right by Blackburn.
Blackburn throws a body shot but no joy.
Sigfridsson throws a looping overhand right but Blackburn ducks down to avoid it.
Blackburn throws a jab when Sigfridsson was well out of range.
Sigfridsson shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Sigfridsson fails to land with a series of punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sigfridsson walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Blackburn checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Blackburn lands a head shot.
Sigfridsson tries to score with a low kick but Blackburn moves his leg out of the way.
Sigfridsson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sigfridsson throws a combination. Blackburn tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sigfridsson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Blackburn darts in trying to clinch
and Sigfridsson counters with a one-two to the body.
Sigfridsson throws a quick inside leg kick.
Blackburn avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sigfridsson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Blackburn ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Sigfridsson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Blackburn lands a nice looking body shot.
Blackburn uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sigfridsson.
Benjamin Sigfridsson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sigfridsson.

Sigfridsson moves into range and clinches up with Blackburn.
Blackburn landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Lugh Blackburn seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sigfridsson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sigfridsson is trying to force a seperation but Blackburn has the dominant position.
Sigfridsson is trying to break the clinch but Blackburn is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sigfridsson scores with a shoulder strike.
Blackburn missing with knees to the body.

Sigfridsson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Blackburn throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sigfridsson was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
The fighters circling - Blackburn throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sigfridsson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Blackburn can do to turn this around?
Sigfridsson misses with a kick to the body.
Blackburn wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Blackburn swings for the body but Sigfridsson moves out of range.
Blackburn takes a swing at Sigfridsson's ribcage but misses.
Blackburn misses with a lunging right hand
and Sigfridsson counters with a stiff right hand.
Blackburn takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Blackburn is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sigfridsson appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Blackburn misses with a hook.
Blackburn takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Sigfridsson lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn scores with a hook to the body. Sigfridsson takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Sigfridsson attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Blackburn wants to counter the offense by Sigfridsson and move into the clinch position.
Sigfridsson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sigfridsson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Blackburn.
Sigfridsson is looking to chop away at Blackburn's legs.
Blackburn lands a body shot.
Blackburn's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Blackburn missing with a left hand there. Sigfridsson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Blackburn scores with a body shot.
Sigfridsson tries to bum rush Blackburn with a series of wild strikes but Blackburn uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sigfridsson misses with a series of wild punches.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Blackburn! But no joy.
Blackburn scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Sigfridsson avoids the body shot from Blackburn.
As Blackburn looks to move away, Sigfridsson throws a big counter combo but Blackburn just gets out of the way.
Blackburn misses the jab.
Blackburn lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sigfridsson has taken the fight to the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sigfridsson is trying to break the clinch but Blackburn is controlling him.

Sigfridsson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sigfridsson throws a shot from downtown. Blackburn moves away and avoids it.
Sigfridsson listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Sigfridsson.
Sigfridsson's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Sigfridsson duly obliges.
Sigfridsson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Blackburn paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sigfridsson is looking to slow Blackburn down with leg kicks.
Sigfridsson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Blackburn.
Sigfridsson misses with a low kick.
Sigfridsson misses with a wild body shot.
Blackburn bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Blackburn throws a jab when Sigfridsson was well out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Sigfridsson. Those never looked like landing.
Blackburn is looking to clinch.
Blackburn's corner calls for a 1-2. Blackburn obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benjamin Sigfridsson dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Sigfridsson fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Sigfridsson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Blackburn is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sigfridsson.
Sigfridsson is looking to clinch.
Sigfridsson tries to bum rush Blackburn with a series of wild strikes but Blackburn uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sigfridsson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sigfridsson moves in looking to clinch but Blackburn pushes him off.

Sigfridsson moves into the clinch.
Sigfridsson working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Nice body punch from Blackburn.
Blackburn misses with a short punch on the inside.

Sigfridsson manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blackburn thows a left - swing and a miss!
Blackburn throws a jab but it's blocked by Sigfridsson.
Sigfridsson misses with a series of wild punches.
Blackburn jabs Sigfridsson to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackburn lands a lovely overhand right.
Sigfridsson throws a head kick that Blackburn semi-blocks.
A nice leg kick lands there from Sigfridsson.
Benjamin Sigfridsson is winning the standup battle so far.
Sigfridsson slips under a jab from Blackburn.
Sigfridsson appears to be looking for a big counter.
Good work by Blackburn as he checks the leg kick.
Sigfridsson misses with a few strikes there.
Blackburn swats away the attempt to clinch by Sigfridsson.
Blackburn circles away from the clinch attempt.
Blackburn steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sigfridsson.

Sigfridsson instigates a clinch.

Sigfridsson breaks the clinch.
Blackburn throws the left hand but Sigfridsson avoids the punch easily.
Sigfridsson went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Blackburn avoids the body shot from Sigfridsson.
Blackburn scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Blackburn ducks under a wild hook from Sigfridsson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sigfridsson misses with a body kick.
Good exchange - Blackburn coming out on top.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jab from Blackburn.
Sigfridsson goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Blackburn scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Sigfridsson connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

Blackburn gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Blackburn takes a shot to the head.
A shot in the inside from Sigfridsson.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Blackburn lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sigfridsson backwards.
Sigfridsson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A head punch on the inside from Blackburn fails to land.
Sigfridsson blocking some punches.
Sigfridsson misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sigfridsson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Blackburn with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Blackburn fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Sigfridsson misses with a punch on the inside.
Blackburn tries to pull guard but Sigfridsson won't allow it.

Sigfridsson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Blackburn scores with a jab to the head.
Sigfridsson moves in looking to clinch but Blackburn pushes him off.
Blackburn lands an overhand right.
Lugh Blackburn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Blackburn is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sigfridsson.
Sigfridsson moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Blackburn is looking to clinch.
Sigfridsson closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Sigfridsson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Blackburn misses with a body shot.
As Blackburn looks to move away, Sigfridsson throws a big counter combo but Blackburn just gets out of the way.
Sigfridsson takes a swing at Blackburn's ribcage but misses.
Benjamin Sigfridsson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sigfridsson lands the left hand.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Sigfridsson, right into the meat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sigfridsson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Blackburn.
Sigfridsson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Blackburn. Sigfridsson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sigfridsson throws a big counter combination but Blackburn scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Sigfridsson moves out of range of the strikes.
Blackburn scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A big right from Sigfridsson misses.
Sigfridsson wants to clinch but Blackburn slips to the side
and Blackburn counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Sigfridsson tries to bum rush Blackburn with a series of wild strikes but Blackburn uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Blackburn looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Blackburn fails in his attempt to clinch.
The fighters circling - Sigfridsson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Blackburn throws a jab when Sigfridsson was well out of range.
Sigfridsson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Blackburn throws out the jab.
Blackburn bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

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 Benjamin Sigfridsson.
Well Sigfridsson 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Benjamin Sigfridsson!
Benjamin Sigfridsson spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.