PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kip Stern (ranked 427 p4p, 369 weight class) and Pyay Thuta (ranked 61 p4p, 53 weight class). Stern comes to the cage accompanied by Fight. 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.

Stern
vs
Thuta

183 cm
26
215
9 - 7 - 0

195 cm
27
214
14 - 5 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Kersikov's Vitamin Clinic (160)
Conviction

Shadow Realm Apparel

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 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kip Stern!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Pyay Thuta!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Shigeki Sano and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thuta lands with a good body shot.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Stern.
Jab, jab by Thuta - just one landing.
Thuta tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Stern was well out of range. Poor timing from Thuta.
Stern looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Stern swings widly with a right hand
and Thuta counters with a nice uppercut.
Stern lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thuta throws a body punch but Stern moves out of range.
A thudding body kick lands there by Stern!
A head kick misses from Thuta.
Thuta takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

It looks like Pyay Thuta has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stern thows a left - swing and a miss!
Thuta circles away from the clinch attempt.
Stern tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
An inside leg kick lands from Thuta.
Thuta throws a low kick but Stern avoids it.
Stern throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Stern throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Thuta stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Stern throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thuta.
Stern blocks a head kick by Thuta.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thuta tries a low kick but Stern avoids it.
Thuta slips under a jab from Stern.
Stern fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Thuta.
Thuta goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Thuta stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Stern.
Stern uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stern tries to clinch up.

Stern shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Thuta manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Thuta is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stern moves into full guard.
Thuta wants to stand but Stern is controlling his posture from full guard.
Stern lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Thuta is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Thuta keeping moving, preventing Stern from controlling successfully.

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.
Stern slips nicely into half guard.
Thuta wants to get back to his feet.
Stern trying to control the action but Thuta is working from the bottom.
Thuta wants to get back to his feet.
Stern lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Thuta pushes Stern off looking to stand but Stern dives back in and keeps control.
Stern thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Thuta's head.
Thuta is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Stern scores with a couple of nice shots.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kip Stern dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Pyay Thuta's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Thuta tries to land a body kick

and Stern counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Thuta pushes Stern off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Thuta loads up on a big right hand but Stern slips the punch.
Thuta with a jab.
Stern keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Stern keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Thuta.
Pyay Thuta seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A telegraphed right hand from Stern misses the target.
Thuta throws out a counter right but Stern avoids it with no problem.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Thuta.

Stern gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is 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!

Thuta manages to break the clinch.
Stern takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stern checks the leg kick nicely there.
Stern dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Stern instigates a clinch.
Thuta throws a head punch that misses.
Stern lands a nice uppercut.
Thuta pushes Stern back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Stern is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Stern.
Stern tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thuta's elbow.

Thuta breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stern misses the shot to the body.
Thuta fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stern manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thuta throws a nice looking combination but Stern bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A little feinted left hand from Stern on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Thuta keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thuta throws a big counter head kick but Stern avoids it with no problem.
Pyay Thuta is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stern is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
A good leg kick by Stern.
Stern lands with a nice body kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thuta swings widly with a right hand
enabling Stern to counter with a crisp jab.

Stern has taken the fight to the clinch.
Stern tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Thuta tries a body shot but Stern blocks it.
Stern tries to throw a body punch but Thuta avoids it by throwing Stern back against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Stern creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stern scores with a shot to the side of Thuta's head.
A shot in the inside from Thuta.
Thuta lands a body shot.
Stern tries to work over Thuta's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A short right from Stern.
Thuta lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Stern or not.
Thuta lands a left hand that snaps the head of Stern backwards.
Thuta pushes Stern back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Stern is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Thuta can do to turn this around?
Stern working aggressively here.
Stern lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Thuta backwards.
Stern has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Thuta is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Stern tries to throw a body punch but Thuta avoids it by throwing Stern back against the cage.
Stern lands with a left to the head.
Stern prevents a body shot from Thuta.
Thuta swings wildly with an uppercut but Stern uses good head movement to avoid it.
Thuta is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Stern tries to throw a body punch but Thuta avoids it by throwing Stern back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thuta working aggressively here.
Stern blocking some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Thuta.

Stern has hold of one of Thuta's legs. Thuta is fighting the takedown attempt but Stern gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Stern won't allow Thuta to get back to his feet.
Stern trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Thuta utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Thuta is looking to stand up but Stern isn't so interested in that idea.
Stern working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Stern distracts Thuta with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Stern controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Stern lands a couple of digs.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kip Stern dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Pyay Thuta's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Stern defending well as Thuta loads up on a big left hand.

Stern rushes Thuta and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Stern goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kip Stern has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Stern fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Stern misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Stern lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Thuta backwards.
Thuta lands with a short shot to the head.
Thuta working aggressively here.
Stern tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thuta's elbow.
Stern lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Thuta backwards.
Stern takes a shot to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stern is trying to drag Thuta to the mat but Thuta just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Stern lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Thuta swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Thuta swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Stern misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thuta takes a shot to the head.
Thuta tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Thuta lands with a right to the head.
Stern blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Thuta tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Thuta throws a head punch that misses.
Stern tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thuta's elbow.
Thuta fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Thuta blocks a body shot from Stern.
Thuta is working Stern over against the cage.

Thuta's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thuta steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Stern.
A countering left hand to the body from Thuta misses.
Stern drops his hands momentarily and Thuta takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Stern fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thuta gets caught napping as Stern dives in and scores a takedown. Thuta manages to retain guard.
Thuta wants to get back to his feet but Stern passes into half guard.

This has been an exciting period of action!

Thuta kicks off Stern and gets to his feet.
Thuta thuds a left hand into Stern's body.
Stern tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Thuta looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Thuta throws a body punch but Stern moves out of range.
Stern was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Some wild striking there from Thuta.
Thuta moves away from the strike by Stern.
Pyay Thuta has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stern avoids the body shot from Thuta.
Thuta throws a body kick that misses.
Stern thinks about countering with a body kick.
Thuta throws the left hand but Stern avoids the punch easily.
Stern throws a shot from downtown. Thuta moves away and avoids it.
Thuta throws a fast counter high kick but Stern manages to duck under it in time.
Thuta takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Thuta connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Stern's hands.
Stern scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A big right from Stern misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Thuta misses its intended target.
A nice leg kick from Stern, right into the meat of the thigh.
An inside leg kick from Thuta misses.
Thuta misses with a hook to the body
and Thuta takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Stern looks to clinch
and Thuta counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Thuta misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Stern scores with a counter punch that sends Thuta to the canvas! Stern smells blood - he's punishing Thuta with more strikes and the ref has stopped it! Thuta has no idea where he is - he's tackled the ref... oh dear, poor guy, the crowd is in hysterics!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kip Stern!
Kip Stern decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.