PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Old Leg Tartakov (ranked 674 p4p, 1741 weight class) and Igor Blancho (ranked 99 p4p, 250 weight class). Igor Blancho has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Old Leg Tartakov's chin.

Tartakov
vs
Blancho

200 cm
25
266
5 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
287
7 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Underpant Gnomes
UnderGround Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Old Leg Tartakov!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Igor Blancho!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Santiago Holmes and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Blancho clinches up with Tartakov and pushes him back against the cage.
Tartakov lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Blancho backwards.
Blancho taking a breather.
Tartakov misses with an elbow over the top.
Blancho wants to take the fight to the mat but Tartakov manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Tartakov.

It looks like Igor Blancho has been cut.
Tartakov lands an elbow just above Blancho 's eye.

Tartakov tightens his grip and picks Blancho up, before dumping him to the ground. Blancho manages to land in guard.
Blancho wants to stand and escape but Tartakov is having none of it.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tartakov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Blancho holds on and takes a little breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tartakov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blancho lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Tartakov definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Blancho trying to control but Tartakov is working from the bottom.
Blancho working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Blancho trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
My spies in Elite Island Gym inform me that Blancho has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Blancho trying to control the position from guard on top but Tartakov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blancho postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tartakov trying to keep a closed guard but Blancho is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blancho content to stall in guard here.
Blancho keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Tartakov's head.
Blancho trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Blancho missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Tartakov looking for a sweep. Not yet Tartakov, not yet.
Tartakov keeping full guard, as Blancho tries to pass.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Tartakov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Blancho can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blancho won't allow Tartakov to sweep him here.
Blancho looking to pass the guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Blancho shoots in for a takedown but Tartakov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Blancho scores with a takedown into Tartakov's guard.
Blancho trying to control the position from guard on top but Tartakov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blancho is looking to pass into half guard but Tartakov pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Tartakov is in guard.

Blancho looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Blancho isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Tartakov stacks Blancho on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Tartakov!
Tartakov throwing strikes but Blancho manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Blancho working the head and body with strikes.
Blancho wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tartakov keeps working.
You can see the frustration on Tartakov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
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!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Blancho cracks Tartakov with a big elbow.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Igor Blancho will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Igor Blancho's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Blancho swats away the attempt to clinch by Tartakov.

Tartakov takes the fight into the clinch.
Blancho blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Blancho tries for a takedown. No joy.
Blancho wants a takedown.
Tartakov gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Blancho.
Old Leg Tartakov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Igor Blancho.
Tartakov is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Blancho is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blancho is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Blancho is stalling here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blancho is looking for a takedown.

Blancho pulls guard.
Tartakov wants to control from the top but Blancho keeps moving.
Tartakov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Blancho keeping full guard, as Tartakov tries to pass.
Tartakov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Blancho's head.
Tartakov trying to control the position from guard on top but Blancho is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blancho looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tartakov is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tartakov chips away with some ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Blancho is on top in guard.

Igor Blancho has got the better of the ground game so far.
Blancho stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tartakov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Blancho connects with a couple of short punches.

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

Blancho controls Tartakov momentarily but Tartakov frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blancho pulls Tartakov in close to prevent any damage.
Tartakov trying to control the position from guard on top but Blancho is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tartakov sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Blancho's guard.

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.
Blancho controlling the position for now.
Blancho is looking to control Tartakov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Blancho avoid being mounted?
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Tartakov connects with a nice short shot to Blancho's temple.
Tartakov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Blancho is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tartakov pulls his head out easily.
Blancho misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Blancho is trying to maintain the position but Tartakov is very close to passing his half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Old Leg Tartakov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Igor Blancho's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Blancho with a lazy takedown attempt
and Tartakov counters with a straight right hand.
Igor Blancho is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice jab there from Tartakov.
Blancho shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Tartakov defends it nicely.
Horrible takedown attempt by Tartakov or perhaps it was just good defense by Blancho, which made it look bad.
Blancho unleashes a big counter combination but Tartakov bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Tartakov doesn't manage to clinch there - Blancho circles away.
Tartakov's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Tartakov duly obliges.
Tartakov wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blancho shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Tartakov as he jumps to the side.
Old Leg Tartakov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Igor Blancho.
Blancho with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Tartakov counter with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tartakov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Blancho paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tartakov wants to clinch.
Blancho takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Tartakov stuffs the takedown attempt from Blancho. Blancho gets slowly back to his feet.

Tartakov closes the distance and pushes Blancho back into the cage.

Blancho gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Tartakov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Blancho is working away from the top position though.
Tartakov slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Blancho must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tartakov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Blancho controls from within his opponent's guard.
Tartakov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Blancho's guard.

Blancho is looking for a triangle here but Tartakov uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Who's going to make the next move?
Blancho gets back to half guard.

Tartakov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Blancho is just riding it out for now. Tartakov eventually gives up the hold.
Tartakov prevents Blancho from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Tartakov is stalling here. Blancho is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Tartakov seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Blancho has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Blancho takes a little break here. Tartakov wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Blancho tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Blancho has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Old Leg Tartakov clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Igor Blancho's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Blancho takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Blancho manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Tartakov on his heels. He'll look to pass Tartakov's guard now, I'm sure.
Blancho stays in close to Tartakov's body and controls the position.
Blancho wants to control from the top but Tartakov keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blancho with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Blancho tries to free his leg and advance position but Tartakov is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blancho scoring with some ground and pound.
Blancho in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Blancho throws a strike but Tartakov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Blancho throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Blancho is trying to keep Tartakov in close.
Blancho trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Tartakov scoring with punches to the head and body.

Blancho is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Tartakov defends well.
Blancho wants to stand but Tartakov is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blancho controls Tartakov momentarily but Tartakov frees himself.
Tartakov wants to control from the top but Blancho keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Tartakov lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Good leg kick by Tartakov.
Blancho tries for a takedown but Tartakov circles away easily
and Blancho takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Blancho shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Tartakov keeping moving, preventing Blancho from controlling successfully.
Blancho stands and throws Tartakov's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Blancho swings around for an armbar but Tartakov sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Blancho's guard.
Blancho is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Blancho trying to keep a closed guard but Tartakov is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tartakov works over Blancho with some ground and pound from guard.
Tartakov throwing strikes but missing.
Blancho tries to strike from the bottom.
Blancho is adopting a defensive guard.

Blancho has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Tartakov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tartakov postures up in Blancho's guard and throws a big left but Blancho blocks it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Old Leg Tartakov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Igor Blancho's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Blancho is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Tartakov's half guard.
Blancho sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Blancho throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Blancho is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Blancho is trying to work for a kimura but Tartakov is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blancho lands strikes from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tartakov trying to control from the bottom.
Tartakov is refusing to be controlled, as Blancho sits in half guard.
Blancho sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Tartakov defending well though.
Blancho tries to pass to full mount but Tartakov defends it.
Tartakov makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Tartakov.
Blancho with a flurry of punches that miss.
Old Leg Tartakov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two 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.
Blancho tries to free his leg and advance position but Tartakov is retaining full guard.
Tartakov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Blancho clinches with his opponent.
Tartakov misses with the head strike.
Blancho wants to take the fight to the mat but Tartakov manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Tartakov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Blancho fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Tartakov clinches.
Blancho has Tartakov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Tartakov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blancho controlling the action here for a moment.
Blancho wants to take the fight to the mat but Tartakov manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Old Leg Tartakov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Igor Blancho.
Blancho stops a takedown attempt from Tartakov.
Tartakov lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Blancho is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Blancho tries for a takedown but Tartakov manages to get underhooks.

Tartakov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tartakov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Blancho.
Blancho is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blancho gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Tartakov counters with a nice low kick that buckles Blancho's knee momentarily.
Tartakov lands a head shot.
Blancho doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Tartakov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A nice leg kick from Tartakov, right into the meat of the thigh.

Tartakov closes the distance and pushes Blancho back into the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Tartakov.
Blancho goes for a takedown in the clinch but Tartakov prevents it.

Tartakov has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Blancho clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Igor Blancho has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Blancho trying to control the hands but Tartakov won't let him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Old Leg Tartakov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Tartakov 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 48:47
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 49:47
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Old Leg Tartakov!
Old Leg Tartakov retains his heavyweight title!
Old Leg Tartakov thanked the fans post fight for their support.