PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Blade Blake (ranked 2376 p4p, 2966 weight class) and Joel Sikoa (ranked 353 p4p, 426 weight class). The key to victory for Blade Blake has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Blake
vs
Sikoa

180 cm
27
215
4 - 2 - 0

187 cm
25
200
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Knockout power

Fantasy Threads

Dangerous Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Blade Blake!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Joel Sikoa!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Steve Smith and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blake is looking to clinch but Sikoa is avoiding it.

Sikoa throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Blake tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Sikoa is in Blake's guard.
Sikoa engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Blake working for a triangle but Sikoa defends it easily.
Blake seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Sikoa's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Sikoa trying to control but Blake is working from the bottom.
Sikoa controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Blake working for a triangle but Sikoa defends it easily.
Blake not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sikoa looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sikoa seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Blake escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sikoa gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Blake keeping moving, preventing Sikoa from controlling successfully.

Blake looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sikoa being controlled here momentarily.
Blake trying to control the position.
Sikoa stays in close to Blake's body and controls the position.

Blake is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Blake being controlled here, momentarily.
It looks like Sikoa might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Sikoa's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Sikoa must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Blake trying to control the position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Blake looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sikoa stays in close to Blake's body and controls the position.

Sikoa avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sikoa sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Blake has his hands on Sikoa's head, controlling the position.

Blake is looking for a triangle but Sikoa pushes his legs off easily.
Sikoa is stalling in the full guard.
Sikoa trying to control but Blake is working from the bottom.
Sikoa is stalling in the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sikoa trying to control but Blake is working from the bottom.
Sikoa might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Blake haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sikoa.

Blake darts in and clinches Sikoa up against the cage.

Blake drags the fight down to the ground.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Blake is trying to keep Sikoa in close.

Sikoa got a little sloppy there for a moment and Blake has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sikoa has managed to get both his arms back between Blake's legs - danger averted.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sikoa seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Blade Blake will probably get the nod.
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.

Sikoa looks for a takedown but Blake sprawls well.
Blake is looking to clinch but Sikoa is avoiding it.
Sikoa throws a fast counter high kick but Blake manages to duck under it in time.
Sikoa tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Blake swivels and escapes.
Sikoa throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Blake's waist but Blake gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sikoa off to one side.
Blade Blake has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joel Sikoa.

Blake closes the distance and clinches.

Blake manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Blake looking for a guillotine here but Sikoa defends easily.
Sikoa looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Blake looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blake can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sikoa controls the pace.
Blake trying to keep a closed guard but Sikoa is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sikoa's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Sikoa being controlled here momentarily.
Sikoa controls from within his opponent's guard.

Blake is looking for a triangle but Sikoa pushes his legs off easily.
Blake looking to control.
Sikoa's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Blake controls Sikoa momentarily but Sikoa frees himself.
Sikoa wants to control from the top but Blake keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Blake has his foot on Sikoa's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sikoa works his way back into a safe position though.
Sikoa trying to control the position from guard on top but Blake is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Blake working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sikoa doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sikoa manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Sikoa wants to control from the top but Blake keeps moving.
Sikoa is stalling in the full guard.
Blake is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Sikoa is sitting in close to Blake's body. Blake has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Sikoa is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Sikoa is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Blake.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Blade Blake!
Our winner, Blade Blake, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.