PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Willard (ranked 4231 p4p, 4086 weight class) and Lorenz Blackwater (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Blackwater is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by A$AP Rocky - Everyday. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Willard
vs
Blackwater

176 cm
18
170
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
180
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Aaron Willard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Lorenz Blackwater!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Michael Johnstone and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blackwater connects with the punch.

Blackwater scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Willard won't allow Blackwater to pass to mount.
Willard knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Blackwater on the ground.
Blackwater is figuring out what he wants to do next.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Blackwater seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackwater performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Blackwater takes one on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Willard swings for the body but Blackwater moves out of range.
Blackwater unleashes a big counter combination but Willard bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

Blackwater manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Willard on his heels. He'll look to pass Willard's guard now, I'm sure.
Blackwater stays in close to Willard's body and controls the position.
Blackwater stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Willard swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Blackwater slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Blackwater thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Blackwater is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Willard can't keep his opponent in guard - Blackwater advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Blackwater looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Willard just misses with a punch to the body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Willard misses the jab.
As Willard backs off Blackwater throws a huge counter combo but Willard manages to avoid it all.
Blackwater throws a right hand that Willard ducks under and follows up with a left that Willard also avoids with ease.
A quick step to the side and Willard tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lorenz Blackwater dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Jab, jab by Willard - just one landing.
Willard misses with a hook
and Blackwater counters with a stiff right hand.
Blackwater bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Lorenz Blackwater is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Willard misses the jab.
Willard throws a jab but it's blocked by Blackwater.
Willard drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Willard avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Aaron Willard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blackwater connects with a crisp jab.
Willard scores with a jab to the head.
Willard misses with a wild combination.
Blackwater swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's one minute gone in the round.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Willard enables Blackwater to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Willard manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Willard is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Willard seems keen to control Blackwater's posture.
Willard can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Blackwater controls the pace.
Blackwater stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Willard swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blackwater is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Blackwater looking to pass the guard.
Blackwater is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A big right from Willard misses.
Blackwater throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Willard went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Willard throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Blackwater counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Willard swings widly with a right hand
and Blackwater counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Lorenz Blackwater seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Willard misses with a wild body shot.
Willard misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Blackwater.
Nice uppercut there from Blackwater.
Blackwater showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Willard.
Blackwater looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Blackwater shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Blackwater was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Willard prevents Blackwater from moving into mount.
Willard seems a little lost for a moment, as Blackwater dominates the positioning.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Blackwater is continuing to stall.
Blackwater has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Blackwater looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Blackwater taking a breather here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lorenz Blackwater showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, 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.

Willard missing with a left hand there. Blackwater was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Blackwater looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Willard throws out a loose jab but Blackwater uses good head movement to avoid it.
Willard throws an off balance right hand
and Blackwater counters with a one-two to the body.
Willard throws a big shot that misses.
Blackwater throws a shot from downtown. Willard moves away and avoids it.
Willard showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Blackwater.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Willard swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Willard connects with a looping right hand.
Blackwater has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Willard looks to throw the jab but Blackwater is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Blackwater closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Blackwater lands in his opponent's guard.
Blackwater is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Blackwater is pushing down on Willard's leg trying to pass to half guard. Willard is fighting to maintain full guard but Blackwater has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blackwater throwing shots but Willard is blocking nicely.
Blackwater controlling the action here.
Blackwater moves into full mount! Willard won't be happy about that!
Blackwater sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Let's hope that Blackwater has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blackwater moves to take his opponent's back.
Blackwater has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Willard's body.

Blackwater has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Blackwater controls the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Blackwater looking for the choke from the back.

Blackwater working for a choke but Willard reverses nicely into Blackwater 's guard.

Blackwater escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Willard gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Willard has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Lorenz Blackwater comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Blackwater has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 27:30
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lorenz Blackwater!
Lorenz Blackwater decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.