PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tuan Blanchard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikolajs Ognjen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Blanchard
vs
Ognjen

216 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

187 cm
25
215 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite 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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tuan Blanchard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Nikolajs Ognjen!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Wagner Zegers and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blanchard misses with a straight right.

Blanchard rushes Ognjen and presses him up against the cage.

Ognjen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Blanchard clinches.
Blanchard is looking for a takedown.
Blanchard tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Blanchard will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Ognjen up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ognjen controlling the action here for a moment.
Blanchard fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tuan Blanchard. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blanchard controlling the action here for a moment.
Ognjen misses with a knee to the head.

Ognjen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Blanchard drives through and clinches with Ognjen against the cage.
Blanchard wants a takedown.
Blanchard tries to pull guard but Ognjen won't allow it.
Blanchard tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ognjen just stands there and leans against the cage.
Blanchard jumps guard but Ognjen stands there with Blanchard around his waist. Blanchard gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blanchard has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Ognjen is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Ognjen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Blanchard tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ognjen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ognjen changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Blanchard throws a hook but Ognjen blocks it.
Ognjen changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Blanchard tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ognjen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Blanchard tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ognjen tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Blanchard fails with the takedown.
Ognjen with the counter takedown but Blanchard avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blanchard tries to clinch but Ognjen is having none of it.
Ognjen drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Blanchard defends it well.
Blanchard moves in looking to clinch but Ognjen pushes him off.
Ognjen slaps away a takedown attempt from Blanchard, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ognjen with the counter takedown but Blanchard avoids it easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Blanchard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Blanchard tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ognjen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ognjen changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Blanchard tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ognjen paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's four 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.
Blanchard wants to clinch.
Blanchard dives in for a single leg takedown but Ognjen sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Ognjen changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Blanchard tries to clinch but Ognjen is having none of it.
Ognjen with the counter takedown but Blanchard avoids it easily.
Blanchard goes for a double leg but Ognjen avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ognjen continues to drive forward.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ognjen ducks under a wild hook from Blanchard.
Ognjen keeps the fight on the outside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolajs Ognjen 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.

Blanchard tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ognjen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Blanchard really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ognjen swats away the attempt to clinch by Blanchard.

Ognjen gets caught flat footed, as Blanchard shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Ognjen scrambles and gets back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ognjen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ognjen keeps the fight on the outside.
Ognjen drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Blanchard defends it well.
Blanchard fails in his attempt to clinch.
And Ognjen tries to counter it with a takedown but Blanchard pushes his down on his head and steps out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blanchard moves in looking to clinch but Ognjen pushes him off.
Ognjen with the counter takedown but Blanchard avoids it easily.
Blanchard wants to clinch up but Ognjen keeps it at a distance.
Ognjen tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Blanchard wants to clinch.
Ognjen feints the counter takedown.

Blanchard has managed to clinch.

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.
Blanchard tries for a takedown. No joy.
Ognjen stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Blanchard tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ognjen smiles and moves away.
Nikolajs Ognjen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A big right from Blanchard misses.
Ognjen with the counter takedown but Blanchard avoids it easily.
Blanchard is looking to clinch.
Ognjen with the counter takedown but Blanchard avoids it easily.
Blanchard tries to clinch but Ognjen is having none of it.
Ognjen feints the counter takedown.
Blanchard moves in looking to clinch but Ognjen pushes him off.
Blanchard tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ognjen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blanchard shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ognjen defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tuan Blanchard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blanchard tries to clinch but Ognjen moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Blanchard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ognjen tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Blanchard fails with an attempt to clinch.
Blanchard tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
And Ognjen tries to counter it with a takedown but Blanchard pushes his down on his head and steps out.

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.
Blanchard tries to clinch up but Ognjen circles away and keeps his distance.
And Ognjen tries to counter it with a takedown but Blanchard pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Blanchard fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ognjen feints the counter takedown.
Blanchard is looking to clinch but Ognjen is avoiding it.
Blanchard tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ognjen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ognjen tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Blanchard is looking to clinch but Ognjen is avoiding it.
Ognjen tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Ognjen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ognjen with the counter takedown but Blanchard avoids it easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Blanchard fails with an attempt to clinch.
Blanchard fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
And Ognjen tries to counter it with a takedown but Blanchard pushes his down on his head and steps out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolajs Ognjen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Blanchard tries to close the distance and clinch but Ognjen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ognjen drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Blanchard defends it well.
Ognjen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Blanchard doesn't manage to clinch there - Ognjen circles away.
Ognjen tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Blanchard moves in looking to clinch but Ognjen pushes him off.
Ognjen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Blanchard.
Ognjen is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Ognjen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Blanchard missing with a left hand there. Ognjen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blanchard tries to close the distance and clinch but Ognjen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Blanchard tries to clinch but Ognjen is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Blanchard fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ognjen, pushing him back against the cage.
Ognjen using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Blanchard tries to score a body lock takedown but Ognjen shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Blanchard has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Ognjen is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Blanchard's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Blanchard tries to pull guard but Ognjen holds him up against the cage and eventually Blanchard drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tuan Blanchard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blanchard is looking to take this one to the mat.
Ognjen gets underhooks to prevent Blanchard's takedown attempt.
Ognjen prevents a takedown attempt there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ognjen slowing the pace effectively.
Blanchard using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ognjen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Blanchard tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ognjen just stands there and leans against the cage.

Ognjen breaks the clinch.
Nikolajs Ognjen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Blanchard tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ognjen swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Blanchard throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Ognjen was covering up waiting for the punch and Blanchard finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Ognjen pushes Blanchard off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blanchard tries to clinch but Ognjen moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Blanchard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Blanchard tries to clinch there but Ognjen circles away.
Blanchard tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ognjen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ognjen is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Blanchard moves in looking to clinch but Ognjen pushes him off.
Blanchard tries to clinch up but Ognjen circles away and keeps his distance.
Ognjen tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Blanchard tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ognjen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blanchard shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ognjen as he jumps to the side.
The fight stays on the outside here - Blanchard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ognjen drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Blanchard defends it well.
Blanchard tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ognjen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ognjen changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Blanchard tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ognjen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
And Ognjen tries to counter it with a takedown but Blanchard pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nice sprawl there from Ognjen as Blanchard shoots in.
Ognjen changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Tuan Blanchard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nikolajs Ognjen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Blanchard throws a jab when Ognjen was well out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikolajs Ognjen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ognjen winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikolajs Ognjen!
Nikolajs Ognjen spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.