PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Kingston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Buster Blighton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kingston
vs
Blighton

169 cm
25
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
25
169 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thomas Kingston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Buster Blighton !
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blighton shoots in looking for a takedown. Kingston tries to sprawl out of it but Blighton keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kingston manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kingston feinted with a counter takedown.
Blighton goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Blighton shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Blighton fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Thomas Kingston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Buster Blighton .
Blighton tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Kingston bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kingston wants to control but Blighton is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blighton tries to get back to half guard but can't.
You can see the frustration on Blighton 's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kingston landing a few strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blighton is trying to control Kingston's posture but Kingston avoids it.
Kingston lands some shots froms side control.
Blighton is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Kingston is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Blighton has escaped the position, nice work there.

Kingston is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Blighton is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Kingston tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kingston has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Blighton is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Blighton gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blighton is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kingston controlling the pace.
Kingston seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Blighton is looking to control Kingston's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Blighton avoid being mounted?
Kingston scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Blighton looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blighton keeping control of the position.
Kingston is controlling the pace.
Blighton is looking to control Kingston's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Blighton avoid being mounted?
Kingston is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Kingston winds up and cracks Blighton with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Blighton trying to control here.
Blighton moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blighton controls Kingston momentarily but Kingston frees himself.
Kingston landing some decent shots from guard.
Kingston lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Kingston preventing the sweep.
Blighton is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kingston advances to half guard.
Blighton is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Blighton is trying to control but can't.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Blighton actively working from the bottom here.
Kingston prevents Blighton from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Kingston dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

The fight stays on the outside here - Blighton looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kingston appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Buster Blighton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Blighton throws a jab when Kingston was well out of range.
Blighton closes the distance but Kingston moves to the side

and Kingston counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kingston.
Kingston controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Kingston is in close to Blighton 's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Blighton trying to control the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Blighton is on top in guard.

Thomas Kingston overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blighton throws an elbow that misses. Kingston uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Blighton 's guard. Nice move by Kingston!

Kingston sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kingston works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Kingston is nestled in close to Blighton , controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Blighton is looking to control Kingston's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Blighton avoid being mounted?
The fighters are battling for position here. Blighton manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kingston stopping the sweep attempt from Blighton .
Kingston has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kingston scoring with punches to the head and body.
Blighton is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kingston controlling the position for now.
Kingston is staying active underneath Blighton , who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kingston is holding on to half guard well.
Kingston tries to get to full guard but Blighton has control of the leg.

Blighton is looking for a kimura but Kingston is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Blighton to get the leverage.
Kingston trying to control here.
Blighton is trying to control the action in half guard but Kingston is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kingston is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Blighton can do to turn this around?
Kingston is holding on to half guard well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Blighton trying to pass the guard but Kingston defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kingston is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kingston slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kingston might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Blighton controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Kingston keeping moving, preventing Blighton from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Blighton throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Kingston counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Blighton !
Blighton sneaks back into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blighton is looking for a sweep. Kingston is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Blighton is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kingston's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kingston's back!

Blighton tightening his grip on Kingston, looking for the choke.
Kingston tries to escape the position.

Blighton is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Blighton struggling to keep hold of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Thomas Kingston will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Blighton shoots in but no luck this time.

Blighton looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Kingston!
Kingston manages to work his way to half guard, despite Blighton 's best efforts.
Kingston on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kingston tries to get out of the position.
Kingston moves into full guard.
Blighton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kingston swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Kingston is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Blighton is aware though and is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blighton trying to control the position from guard on top but Kingston is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blighton trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kingston has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Kingston has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Blighton can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kingston wants to sweep but no luck.
Blighton throwing strikes but missing.

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.
Blighton is stalling in the full guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Blighton is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kingston is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Blighton shoots in for a double leg but Kingston sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kingston changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Blighton shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Blighton was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Blighton is looking to take a break and control but Kingston is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Blighton tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kingston tries to buck Blighton off but Blighton is having none of it.
Blighton wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kingston keeps working.
Blighton tries to advance to mount but Kingston denies him.
Kingston tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Blighton tries to score with some ground and pound. Kingston controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Blighton wants to control but Kingston is keeping him busy.

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.
Blighton sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Kingston is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Kingston struggling a bit here.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Blighton trying to control the position but Kingston is working away.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Blighton throws a head kick that Kingston semi-blocks.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Blighton is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kingston sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
It looked like Kingston wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Thomas Kingston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Buster Blighton .
Kingston slips a jab and a cross from Blighton .
Buster Blighton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kingston showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Blighton .

And that's the end of the fight!
Buster Blighton comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kingston has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Buster Blighton !
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Thomas Kingston!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Thomas Kingston!

Thomas Kingston wins by split decision!