PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Brent Blackman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raian Krispovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Raian Krispovic told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Blackman
vs
Krispovic

190 cm
18
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
208 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brent Blackman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Raian Krispovic!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Mauricio Rocha and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Krispovic closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Blackman to the mat! Blackman manages to get full guard.
Krispovic is fighting to break Blackman's control of his arms but Blackman is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Blackman is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Krispovic is not content to let Blackman control the position.

Blackman is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Krispovic doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Blackman.

Blackman is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Krispovic sees it coming and defends easily.

Krispovic is defending against the submission attempts here by Blackman.
Krispovic punching from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackman wants to free his trapped foot but Krispovic is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Blackman uses his free foot to push down on Krispovic's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Krispovic.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Blackman is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Blackman shoots for a double leg takedown but Krispovic sprawls well. He's pushed Blackman's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Blackman takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Blackman is breathing heavily.
Krispovic misses with a takedown

and Blackman counters with a nice double leg into side control. Krispovic won't be happy with that.
Krispovic is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Krispovic is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Blackman's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Krispovic tries to get to full guard but Blackman has control of the leg.
Krispovic really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Blackman. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Still in half guard, Blackman seems content to control.
Krispovic trying to control here.
Krispovic is looking to improve his position.
Krispovic is looking to control Blackman's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Krispovic avoid being mounted?
Krispovic tries to get to full guard but Blackman has control of the leg.
Blackman wants to advance to full mount but Krispovic doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blackman forces his way into half guard.

Krispovic looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Krispovic pushes Blackman off looking to stand but Blackman dives back in and keeps control.
Blackman has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Blackman works his way to his opponent's back.
Blackman struggling to keep hold of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Blackman is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Blackman trying to control momentarily.
Krispovic tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Blackman throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Blackman trying to control but Krispovic is having none of it.
Blackman misses with a head shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Brent Blackman will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Krispovic fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Blackman tries to clinch up.
Blackman looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Krispovic is fending him off so far but Blackman persists. Nope, Krispovic circles away and we're back to standing.
Krispovic tries for a takedown but Blackman circles away easily

and Blackman counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Krispovic!
Blackman punishing his opponent with strikes.

Blackman working for a submission but Krispovic is keeping him at bay.

Blackman is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Krispovic can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackman wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Krispovic is trying desperately to improve position.

Blackman is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Krispovic has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Krispovic!

Krispovic got a little sloppy there for a moment and Blackman has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Krispovic has managed to get both his arms back between Blackman's legs - danger averted.

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.

Blackman escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Krispovic gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Blackman wants to sweep here but Krispovic controlling him for the moment.
Brent Blackman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Krispovic trying to control the position from guard on top but Blackman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blackman wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krispovic trying to control but Blackman is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Krispovic throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Blackman's head.

Blackman gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Krispovic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Krispovic tries to clinch but Blackman moves away

so Blackman counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Krispovic is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Blackman trying to control but Krispovic is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blackman forces his way into half guard.
Blackman wants to pass the guard but Krispovic is defending well.
Blackman moves nicely into side control.
Krispovic is not content to let Blackman control the position.
Blackman working the head with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brent Blackman dominated that second round.
That's time! Blackman's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Krispovic closes the distance and clinches.
Krispovic fails to pull guard.

Krispovic is trying to trip Blackman. He has hold of a leg but Blackman is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Krispovic persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Blackman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Krispovic is one step ahead there.
Blackman is working hard here to advance position.

Blackman throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Krispovic pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Blackman is keeping the position for now.
Krispovic won't allow Blackman to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackman looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Krispovic puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Blackman is looking to control Krispovic's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Blackman avoid being mounted?
Krispovic slows the pace down in half guard.

Blackman looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Krispovic lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Blackman is looking for a sweep. Krispovic is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

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.
Krispovic works his foot free and advances to mount.
Blackman is wriggling around trying to escape.

Krispovic looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Blackman is desperately trying to improve his position but Krispovic has a good base and remains in mount.
Blackman tries to lock up and control but Krispovic gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blackman regains half guard.
Blackman is looking for a sweep. Krispovic is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Krispovic wants to control but Blackman is keeping him busy.
Blackman makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Blackman.
Blackman wants to stand up but Krispovic is controlling him.

Blackman is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Krispovic trying to control but Blackman is working from the bottom.
Brent Blackman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Blackman lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Krispovic!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blackman looking to control but Krispovic is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Krispovic tries to hold on but Blackman pushes him away.
Blackman with the ground and pound from mount.
Blackman sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Raian Krispovic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Blackman blocks Krispovic's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

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 Brent Blackman.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Blackman, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brent Blackman!