PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rei Bourke (ranked 928 p4p, 120 weight class) and Bobby Bianchi (ranked 1668 p4p, 200 weight class). Bourke comes to the cage accompanied by Champion. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Bourke
vs
Bianchi

170 cm
30
146 lbs
20 - 2 - 0

180 cm
30
164 lbs
10 - 10 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 20 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rei Bourke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Bobby Bianchi!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Radbod Blank and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bianchi slips a jab and a cross from Bourke.

Bianchi feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Bianchi scoring with some ground and pound.
Bourke wants to stand up but Bianchi is controlling him.
Bianchi not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Bianchi scoring with some ground and pound.
Bianchi passes Bourke's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Bianchi lands with a punch from half guard.
Still in half guard, Bianchi seems content to control.
Bourke tries to kick Bianchi off in order to stand up. Bianchi Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.

Bianchi tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Bianchi has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bourke is trying to get back to his feet.

Bianchi thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Bianchi working the ground and pound from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bourke pushes Bianchi away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Bianchi gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Bianchi grinds an elbow into Bourke's temple.
Bianchi working the body and head with strikes.
Bianchi working the ground and pound.
Bianchi trying to control the position but Bourke is working away.
Bianchi controlling the position.
Bianchi's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Bianchi working the head with strikes.
Bianchi wants to control but Bourke is keeping him busy.
Bianchi cracks Bourke with a big elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bourke is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Bourke taking a bit of punishment here - Bianchi scoring with strikes.
Bianchi is looking to take a break and control but Bourke is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bourke is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Bianchi is controlling him well.
Bourke trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Bianchi working the body and head with strikes.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Bianchi advances to mount.
Bianchi pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bourke is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bianchi controlling his opponent.
Bourke knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bianchi on the ground.
Bourke wants to get back to his feet.
Bianchi breaks from Bourke's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Bianchi is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Bourke can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Bianchi in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Bourke wants to try and get back to his feet.
Bianchi scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Bourke?

Bourke has left one of his arms exposed and Bianchi doesn't need a second invitation. He's isolated it and locked on a tight armbar. Bourke screams and taps out, obviously in a lot of pain. Hopefully there isn't permanent damage to that arm.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:54 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Bobby Bianchi!
Our winner, Bobby Bianchi, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
In defeat, Rei Bourke stepped up to the mic, saying 'I'll be back in no time.'.