PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kobe Bryan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johan Blick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Bryan
vs
Blick

185 cm
29
170 lbs
23 - 16 - 1

187 cm
33
177 lbs
18 - 7 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kobe Bryan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Johan Blick!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blick closes the distance but Bryan moves to the side
and Blick takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Blick uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bryan.
Johan Blick seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bryan scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Bryan throws a one two combo.
Bryan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Blick throws a predictable looking body shot

and Bryan counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Bryan is thwarting Blick's attempts to control the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Blick desperately trying to maintain half guard.

Blick actively working from the bottom here.
Blick wants to improve his position but Bryan is controlling well.
Bryan is trying to control the action in half guard but Blick is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Bryan in particular looking to stall.
Bryan is looking to take a break and control but Blick is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Blick is looking to improve his position.
Well, if Bryan is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Kobe Bryan just wasn't active enough.
Blick misses with an uppercut.
Blick is looking to clinch but Bryan is avoiding it.

Blick scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Bryan blocking the ground and pound attempt from Blick.
Blick is just content to waste time from the top position. Bryan takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bryan pulls Blick in close to his closed guard and prevents Blick from doing any damage or advancing position.

Bryan looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Blick looking to sit in guard and control but Bryan gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Bryan looking to pass the guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bryan stopping the sweep attempt from Blick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blick is trying to keep Bryan in close.
Bryan won't allow Blick to sweep him here.
Blick is adopting a defensive guard.
Bryan passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Bryan working away.

Bryan is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Blick is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Blick is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bryan working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Bryan fails to land a wild elbow strike.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bryan is looking to take a break and control but Blick is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Blick parries the strikes from Bryan easily there. Bryan is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Blick to escape.
Blick tries to buck Bryan off but Bryan is having none of it.
Bryan is looking to take a break and control but Blick is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Bryan is trying to get an arm triangle but Blick is defending well.
Blick is trying to control Bryan's posture but Bryan avoids it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kobe Bryan dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bryan circles away from the clinch attempt
and Bryan counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Blick closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Bryan to the mat! Bryan manages to get full guard.
Bryan working a defensive guard here.
Blick wants to pass the guard but Bryan is keeping the position.
Blick trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Bryan manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Bryan trying to control the position from guard on top but Blick is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kobe Bryan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bryan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blick is trying to keep Bryan in close.
Bryan trying to control the position from guard on top but Blick is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bryan is fighting to break Blick's control of his arms but Blick is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Johan Blick wasn't active enough on the ground.
Blick uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bryan.
Blick tries to close the distance and clinch but Bryan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Blick stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Blick tries to clinch up but Bryan circles away and keeps his distance.
Bryan closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Blick connects with a right hand. Bryan shakes it off.
A slow jab from Bryan misses its intended target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blick is looking to clinch but Bryan is avoiding it.
Blick has his takedown stuffed
and Bryan counters with a straight right hand.
Bryan is trying hard to land a takedown here. Blick sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Bryan uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bryan throws a right and a left that Blick avoids nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Blick looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bryan shoots for a double leg takedown but Blick sprawls well. He's pushed Bryan's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Blick slips under a jab from Bryan.
Bryan scores with a three punch combo!
Bryan throws a hook but Blick blocks it.
Blick tries to close the distance and clinch but Bryan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bryan lands a jab to the nose.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut there from Bryan.
Blick swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Bryan counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Blick is looking to clinch but Bryan is avoiding it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Blick looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Blick is looking to clinch but Bryan is avoiding it.
Nice sprawl there from Blick as Bryan shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kobe Bryan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blick tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Bryan counters with a single leg into guard. Blick didn't expect that.
Bryan trying to control the position from guard on top but Blick is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bryan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Blick swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Blick lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Bryan!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Blick wants to control the action but instead Bryan gets a body lock and reverses into Blick's guard! Nice work!

Blick is looking for a triangle here but Bryan uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Bryan working the ground and pound from side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bryan laying and praying for a moment but Blick takes advantage and regains half guard.
Nice strikes from Bryan there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kobe Bryan dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Blick keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Bryan.
Bryan moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Bryan jabs at Blick's body.
Blick looks to clinch
and Bryan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Johan Blick is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Blick fails in his attempt to clinch.
Blick tries to bum rush Bryan with a series of wild strikes but Bryan uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bryan misses with a left hand
and Blick counters with a straight right hand.
Blick swinging wildly here.
Bryan fails to land with a series of punches.
Blick defending well as Bryan loads up on a big left hand.
Bryan keeps the fight on the outside.
Blick fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bryan fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blick closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bryan circles away.
A big right from Bryan misses.
Bryan circles away from the clinch attempt.
Blick tries to close the distance and clinch but Bryan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bryan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kobe Bryan is winning the standup battle so far.
Bryan misses with a body shot.

Bryan drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Bryan is stalling in the full guard.
Blick working a defensive guard here.
Bryan won't allow Blick to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blick looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Bryan makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Bryan wants to control from the top but Blick keeps moving.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Blick looking for a guillotine here but Bryan defends easily.
Bryan throwing strikes but missing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Blick avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bryan wants to control from the top but Blick keeps moving.
Blick not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bryan wants to pass the guard but Blick is keeping the position.

Blick is looking for a triangle but Bryan pushes his legs off easily.
Bryan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Blick is keeping the position for now.
Bryan trying to control the position from guard on top but Blick is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kobe Bryan has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Blick jabs Bryan right on the nose. Bryan blinks but takes it well.
Good shot there by Bryan.
Blick closes the distance and clinches up with Bryan, looking for a takedown. Blick pushes Bryan against the cage but Bryan circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Blick fails in his attempt to clinch.
Blick is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Bryan.
A punch lands to the side of Blick 's head but he takes it in his stride.
A slow jab from Bryan misses its intended target.

Bryan throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Blick was covering up waiting for the punch and Bryan finishes the takedown easily into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bryan working some strikes from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kobe Bryan clearly takes that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Bryan displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Blick.
A nice combination there by Blick.
Blick tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bryan sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Blick somewhat.
Blick swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Blick shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Blick takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kobe Bryan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johan Blick.
Blick connects with a looping right hand.
Bryan throws a series of strikes that have Blick backpedaling.
Blick fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bryan works Blick's body with a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bryan paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
No joy there for Bryan, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bryan swings for the body but Blick moves out of range.
Blick tries to close the distance and clinch but Bryan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Blick shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bryan but Bryan pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Blick walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Blick fails to land with a series of punches.
Bryan misses with a jab to the body
and Blick counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Blick fails with a takedown attempt.
Blick is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Blick tries to clinch up
and Bryan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Bryan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Blick moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bryan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bryan changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Bryan closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Blick to the mat! Blick manages to get full guard.
Bryan cracks Blick with a solid left hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Blick trying to keep a closed guard but Bryan is proving a slippery customer.
Bryan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Blick swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Blick trying to control the position here.
Bryan looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bryan is fighting to break Blick's control of his arms but Blick is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Johan Blick wasn't active enough on the ground.
Blick closes the distance but Bryan moves to the side
and Bryan counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Blick connects with a single shot there.
Blick walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Blick is defended easily by Bryan.
Bryan takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Bryan throws an overhand right that lands on Blick's shoulder, as Blick tries to avoid the shot.

Blick shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Bryan's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blick trying to control the position from guard on top but Bryan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blick looking to pass the guard.
Bryan has control of Blick's left arm, preventing Blick from doing any damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Blick throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bryan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Blick missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Blick trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Blick wants to control from the top but Bryan keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Johan Blick will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Blick is looking to clinch but Bryan is avoiding it.
Blick avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bryan tries to score a power double leg takedown but Blick sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bryan somewhat.
Blick keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Blick has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Bryan lands the left hand.
Blick slaps away a takedown attempt from Bryan, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Blick avoids the body shot from Bryan.
Blick fails in his attempt to clinch.
Blick tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bryan shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Blick sprawls well. Blick wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bryan gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kobe Bryan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bryan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Blick tries to clinch up.
Bryan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bryan looks for a takedown but Blick sprawls well.
Blick misses with a leg kick
and Bryan counters with a three punch combo that has Blick backing up. Blick nods at Bryan to acknowledge the strikes.
Bryan misses with a body punch

and Blick counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Blick works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Blick lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
This has been an exciting period of action!

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bryan wants to improve his position but Blick is controlling well.

Blick seems to be looking for submissions.
Bryan is trying to get back to full guard.
Blick wants to pass the guard but Bryan is defending well.
Johan Blick has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bryan is controlling Blick's trapped leg to prevent Blick from advancing to side control.

Blick seems to be looking for submissions.
Bryan wants to control but Blick is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Blick is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Bryan has managed to free his arm - good work.
Blick wants to free his trapped foot but Bryan is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bryan avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Blick.
Bryan is trying to get back to full guard.

Blick is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Bryan wants to control but Blick is keeping busy.
Kobe Bryan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johan Blick comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bryan has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 48:47
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 48:47
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kobe Bryan!