PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tom Blakemore (ranked 4224 p4p, 202 weight class) and Martin Finger (ranked 8595 p4p, 330 weight class). Blakemore comes into the arena with Down with the Trumpets blaring out of the sound system. Martin Finger has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Blakemore
vs
Finger

160 cm
25
138 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

169 cm
25
138 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Mockstar Energy Drinks 160Q
Fanatic Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tom Blakemore!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Martin Finger!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Jonathan Paton and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Finger scores with a body shot.
Finger scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Blakemore has been working on his boxing with his coaches at IC&E Academy in the buildup to the fight.
Blakemore tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Finger counters with a stiff right hand.
Finger moves into range and connects with a jab.
Finger fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Blakemore looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Finger misses with a wild body shot.
Finger misses with a wild combination.
Martin Finger seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Finger catches Blakemore with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Blakemore's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Finger connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Blakemore scrambles back to his feet.
Finger scores with a hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A jab from Finger finds it's way through Blakemore's defenses.
Finger displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blakemore shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Finger lands with a straight right. Blakemore didn't see that one coming.
Finger tries to clinch up but Blakemore circles away and keeps his distance.
Finger throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Blakemore takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Finger throws out a powerful jab.

Blakemore closes the distance and clinches.
Finger tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Finger goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Finger is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Blakemore can't fight it off and eventually Finger manages to take the fight to the floor. Blakemore looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Blakemore is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Finger defends well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Blakemore looking for a guillotine here but Finger defends easily.
Finger stays in close to Blakemore's body and controls the position.

Blakemore looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Blakemore lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Blakemore drops back looking for a leg! Finger is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Finger manages to kick Blakemore off! Blakemore jumps back into Finger's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Blakemore thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Finger keeping moving, preventing Blakemore from controlling successfully.
Blakemore in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Finger utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Blakemore is looking to work some ground and pound but Finger has wrist control.
Finger working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Blakemore.
Blakemore trying to control the position from guard on top but Finger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Blakemore is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Blakemore is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Martin Finger dominated that round.
That's time! Blakemore's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Finger displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Blakemore.
Blakemore slips a straight right by Finger.
Blakemore tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Finger manages to circle out of the way.
Finger tries to close the distance and clinch but Blakemore swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Blakemore shoots in looking for a takedown. Finger tries to sprawl out of it but Blakemore keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Finger manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Blakemore looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Finger is fending him off so far but Blakemore persists. Nope, Finger circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Blakemore. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Finger fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blakemore tries for a takedown but Finger sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Finger just misses with a punch to the body.
As Finger tries to get set, Blakemore tries to push him back and clinch up but Finger manages to avoid the attempt.
Finger scores with a jab. Blakemore acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Blakemore has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Finger finds it's way round the side to connect with Blakemore's head.
Finger lands with a hook. Blakemore tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finger cracks Blakemore with a good jab.
Martin Finger is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Finger bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Finger cracks Blakemore with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Blakemore swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Blakemore tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Finger defends well and Blakemore ends up having to push Finger into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Blakemore thows a left - swing and a miss!
Blakemore has his takedown stuffed
and Finger counters with a stiff right hand.
Blakemore walks into a jab.
Blakemore is trying hard to land a takedown here. Finger sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Finger fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Blakemore on the side of the head.
Blakemore fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Finger throws out a counter right but Blakemore avoids it with no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finger tries to clinch but Blakemore moves out of range.
Blakemore on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Finger moves into range and connects with a jab.
Finger tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Blakemore was well out of range. Poor timing from Finger.
Blakemore appears to be looking for a big counter.
Blakemore shoots for a double leg takedown but Finger sprawls well. He's pushed Blakemore's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Martin Finger seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Finger lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Finger lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Finger has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Finger lands a glancing blow to the side of Blakemore's head.
Finger leaves Blakemore with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Blakemore shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Finger pinned against the cage. Finger gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
It seemed like Finger was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finger lands a lovely overhand right.
Finger fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
As Finger looks to move away, Blakemore throws a big counter combo but Finger just gets out of the way.
Finger lands with a cross.
Blakemore on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Some wild striking there from Finger.
Finger thuds his right hand into Blakemore's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Jab, jab by Finger - just one landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blakemore takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Blakemore shoots in for a double leg but Finger sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Blakemore takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Finger throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Blakemore gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Finger leaves Blakemore with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
It seemed like Finger was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Finger throws a series of punches but Blakemore moves out of range.
Blakemore half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Finger bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Blakemore's head.
Finger connects with a looping right hand.
Finger has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Finger works Blakemore's body with a nice hook.
Finger might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Finger lands with an overhand left.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Martin Finger showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Finger works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Finger tries to clinch up but Blakemore circles away and keeps his distance.
Blakemore went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Blakemore.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Finger! But no joy.
Finger lands a jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Finger. Blakemore does a little dance to reset his feet.
Blakemore is looking to counter the offense by Finger and move into the clinch.
Blakemore changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Finger tries to avoid it but Blakemore manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Finger to the ground. Finger escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Decent striking displayed by Finger there.
We've been informed that Finger has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blakemore tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Finger defends well and Blakemore ends up having to push Finger into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Blakemore. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Finger checks a low kick from Blakemore.
Blakemore drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Finger lands a lovely overhand right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finger tests Blakemore's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Finger lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Blakemore changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Finger tries to avoid it but Blakemore manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Finger to the ground. Finger escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A decent looking cross lands there for Finger.
Finger ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Decent striking displayed by Finger there.

Blakemore drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Blakemore looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Blakemore is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Finger knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Blakemore is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Finger knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Blakemore working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Blakemore working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Blakemore is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Finger knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Blakemore is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Finger knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Martin Finger is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Blakemore wants to lay and pray for a moment but Finger keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Finger is looking to reverse the position.

Blakemore tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Blakemore is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Finger has escaped the position, nice work there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Blakemore wants to control but Finger is keeping him busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Martin Finger comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Finger 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 26:30
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 26:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Martin Finger!
Martin Finger decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
In defeat, Tom Blakemore stepped up to the mic, saying 'I'll come back much stronger! Watch this space!'.