PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lugh Blackburn (ranked 1915 p4p, 228 weight class) and Nick Tessier (ranked 2280 p4p, 266 weight class). Blackburn comes to the cage accompanied by When the Man Comes Down. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Blackburn
vs
Tessier

187 cm
41
200 lbs
36 - 26 - 1

184 cm
26
196 lbs
8 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition

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 36 - 26 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Lugh Blackburn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nick Tessier!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Nard Betker and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A nice inside leg kick there by Tessier. That's going to slow Blackburn down.
Tessier ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Blackburn moves away.
Tessier defending well as Blackburn loads up on a big left hand.
Blackburn walks into a stiff left hand from Tessier.
A looping hook to the body misses from Blackburn. Tessier does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tessier throws a wild body kick that Blackburn sees coming a mile off.
A big right from Tessier misses.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Blackburn blocks the body kick.
Tessier misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Blackburn.
A slapping leg kick lands for Tessier.
Tessier walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Tessier fails in his attempt to clinch.
A swing and a miss from Tessier.
Blackburn sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Blackburn moves out of range as Tessier throws a body kick.
Tessier needs to keep his hands up - Blackburn had a free shot at his head there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Blackburn tries to clinch but Tessier moves out of range.
Tessier misses with a low kick.
Tessier throws out a loose jab but Blackburn uses good head movement to avoid it.
Blackburn on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Tessier throws a quick inside leg kick.
A slow jab from Blackburn misses its intended target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tessier scores with a hook to the body. Blackburn takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Tessier throws a nice inside leg kick.
Tessier pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Tessier gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Blackburn counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Blackburn slips a jab from Tessier.
Tessier uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Blackburn.
Tessier attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Blackburn lands a lovely overhand right.
Tessier gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Blackburn connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Blackburn scores with a jab to the jaw.
Tessier tries a head kick but it misses.
Tessier misses with a kick to the body.
Tessier throws a sloppy head kick
and Blackburn counters with a straight right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nice shot lands for Blackburn.
Blackburn is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

Blackburn moves into the clinch successfully.
Tessier lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Blackburn misses with a punch on the inside.
Blackburn tries to land knees in the clinch but Tessier avoids the damage to the body.
Blackburn tries to throw a body punch but Tessier avoids it by throwing Blackburn back against the cage.
Tessier trying to land knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tessier lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Tessier scores with a nice hook to the head.
Blackburn jumps guard but Tessier stands there with Blackburn around his waist. Blackburn gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Tessier lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Tessier missing with knees to the body.
Blackburn throws a punch but it's blocked by Tessier.
Blackburn misses with a punch on the inside.
Tessier tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Tessier can't find room to land a body shot as Blackburn controls the action.
Blackburn lands with a light punch inside.
Tessier taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Blackburn tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Tessier just stands there and leans against the cage.

Blackburn decides to pull guard.
Tessier passes into half guard.
Blackburn trying to hold on to Tessier's head to control him but Tessier postures up.
Blackburn is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Tessier throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Tessier is looking to work some ground and pound but Blackburn has wrist control.
Tessier in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tessier is looking to work some ground and pound but Blackburn has wrist control.
Tessier landing with the ground and pound.
Blackburn avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Tessier scoring with punches to the head and body.

Blackburn is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Tessier defends well.
Tessier wants to control from the top but Blackburn keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tessier landing some decent shots from guard.

Blackburn is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Tessier is aware though and is defending well.
Tessier postures up.
Tessier is looking to work some ground and pound but Blackburn has wrist control.
Tessier stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Blackburn swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tessier throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Blackburn works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tessier working some strikes from top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blackburn not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Tessier pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Blackburn is keeping the position for now.

Tessier drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tessier jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Tessier advances position into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tessier moves away from the strike by Blackburn.
Blackburn misses with a looping right.
Tessier throws a head kick but Blackburn moves out of range.
Blackburn missing with a left hand there. Tessier was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Blackburn ducks under a wild hook from Tessier.
Blackburn swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Blackburn backing away here, and Tessier unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Tessier throws a leg kick
and Blackburn counters with a stiff right hand.
Tessier misses with a wild body shot.
Blackburn wants to clinch up but Tessier keeps it at a distance.
Tessier turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Tessier pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Tessier takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Tessier gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Blackburn cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tessier misses with a leg kick.
Nick Tessier seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tessier keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Blackburn.
Tessier tries to land a front kick but Blackburn steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Tessier looks to throw the jab but Blackburn is out of range.
Blackburn tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tessier swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tessier looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
A slow jab from Blackburn misses its intended target.
Tessier thumps Blackburn with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackburn tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tessier was well out of range. Poor timing from Blackburn.
Tessier throws a head kick that half lands.
Blackburn lands a nice hook to Tessier's body. Tessier takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Tessier tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Tessier takes a swing at Blackburn's ribcage but misses.
Blackburn is looking to counter punch.
Blackburn just misses with a punch to the body.
Blackburn throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Blackburn blocks a low kick nicely.
Tessier misses with a low kick.
Blackburn was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Tessier throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Blackburn is looking to counter punch.
Tessier scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Tessier plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Blackburn defending well as Tessier loads up on a big left hand.
Blackburn on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Tessier. Tessier obviously looking to wear him down.
A big right from Blackburn misses.
Nice defenses there by Blackburn.
Blackburn checks a leg kick.
Tessier tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
An attempted straight right counter from Blackburn misses the target.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tessier tries to land a front kick but Blackburn steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn lands a right hook to the body.
Tessier lands a jab.
Tessier tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Blackburn defends well and Tessier ends up having to push Blackburn into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Tessier is breathing heavily.
Blackburn jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Tessier throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Tessier misses with a head kick.
Tessier tries to land a front kick but Blackburn steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Blackburn swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Blackburn lands a nice shot that snaps Tessier's head back.
Tessier throws a low kick, looking for Blackburn's leg but Blackburn calmly moves out of range.
Blackburn misses with a straight left.
Blackburn scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Tessier needs to keep his hands up - Blackburn had a free shot at his head there.
Blackburn looks to score with a jab to the body but Tessier is just out of range.
Blackburn stuns Tessier with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A jab from Blackburn finds it's way through Tessier's defenses.
Blackburn lands a slapping body shot.
Blackburn throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Blackburn is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Tessier throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Blackburn swings for the body but Tessier moves out of range.
Tessier looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tessier fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Tessier walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Blackburn checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

Blackburn closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Tessier misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Blackburn.
Tessier blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Blackburn misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Tessier.
A short right from Tessier on the inside.
Blackburn lands a right hand.
Tessier drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Blackburn gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Tessier on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Tessier looking to slow down the pace here.
Tessier tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tessier misses with some punches.
Tessier throws a head punch that misses.
Blackburn with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Blackburn with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Blackburn is trying to pull guard but Tessier turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tessier on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Blackburn pulls guard effortlessly.
Tessier stands and throws Blackburn's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Tessier is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Blackburn is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Blackburn struggling a bit here.
Blackburn regains half guard.

Tessier is working for a kimura but Blackburn is defending it quite comfortably.

Blackburn looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Lugh Blackburn will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Blackburn scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Tessier doesn't seem bothered though.
A jab lands there for Tessier.

Blackburn closes the distance and clinches.
Blackburn tries a knee to the head but Tessier blocks it.
Tessier doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tessier throws an elbow that misses.
Blackburn is pressed up against the cage. Tessier has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Blackburn down to the mat. Blackburn avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Tessier throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Blackburn tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Tessier is in Blackburn's guard.
Blackburn can't keep his opponent in guard - Tessier advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Tessier is trying to control the action in half guard but Blackburn is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Tessier is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Blackburn looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Tessier wants to pass the guard but Blackburn is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackburn slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Tessier trying to control but Blackburn is working from the bottom.

Tessier postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Blackburn is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Tessier, into his guard.

Tessier is looking for a triangle but Blackburn pushes his legs off easily.
Tessier takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Tessier is looking for a triangle but Blackburn pushes his legs off easily.
Blackburn slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Tessier is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn working the ground and pound but Tessier is defending the strikes.
Tessier tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Blackburn wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Tessier, who protects the arm well.
You can see the frustration on Tessier's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Tessier manages to work his way to half guard, despite Blackburn's best efforts.

Tessier looking for submissions off his back.
Nick Tessier has got the better of the ground game so far.
Blackburn not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn throwing shots but Tessier is blocking nicely.

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

Blackburn looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Blackburn is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Blackburn is working for a submission of some sort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Tessier wants to get back to full guard.
Tessier avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Blackburn.
Blackburn prevents Tessier from improving his position.

Blackburn is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Blackburn prevents Tessier from standing back up.

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 Lugh Blackburn.
I think Blackburn has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 29:29
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Lugh Blackburn!