PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thor Svensk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and TJ Duarte (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thor Svensk has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Svensk
vs
Duarte

211 cm
20
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
231 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Thor Svensk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, TJ Duarte!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Svensk wants to clinch up but Duarte keeps it at a distance.
Svensk looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Duarte jabs Svensk right on the nose. Svensk blinks but takes it well.

It looks like Thor Svensk has been cut.
Svensk scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Duarte throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Svensk counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Duarte throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Svensk cracks Duarte with an open hand slap.
Duarte throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Svensk sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Svensk lands with an overhand left.
Duarte throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Svensk.
Svensk moves in looking to clinch but Duarte pushes him off.
Svensk wants to clinch.
A combination from Duarte does no damage.

Svensk has Duarte up against the cage in a clinch.
Duarte tries to break the clinch but Svensk is controlling the position.
Duarte can't break the clinch.

Duarte breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Duarte misses with a straight left.
Svensk tries to clinch but Duarte is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duarte throws the left hand but Svensk avoids the punch easily.
Svensk keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Svensk tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Svensk has Duarte up against the cage in a clinch.
Duarte wants to break free but Svensk has control.
Duarte is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Duarte is trying to break the clinch but Svensk has him pressed against the cage.

Svensk breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Duarte misses with the combination.
Svensk fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Duarte looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Duarte throws a hook to the side of Svensk's head but Svensk sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Svensk looks for a takedown but Duarte sprawls well.
Svensk takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Duarte misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Svensk counters with a left and a right that stings Duarte.
Duarte looks gassed!
Duarte throws a left and a right that both miss
and Svensk counters with a series of strikes. Duarte will be more careful next time no doubt.
Svensk tries to bum rush Duarte with a series of wild strikes but Duarte uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Svensk rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Duarte moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Svensk moves into the clinch successfully.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Duarte is looking to break free of the clinch but Svensk has double underhooks.
Duarte has had enough of the clinch but Svensk keeps him there for the moment.
Svensk stalling against the cage.

Duarte pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Duarte stuffs the takedown attempt from Svensk. Svensk gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thor Svensk. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Svensk is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Svensk looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Duarte!
Duarte is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns Duarte that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Svensk is landing with some decent strikes but Duarte is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Svensk looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Duarte trying desperately to get to his feet.
Svensk unloading with bombs!
Duarte is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Svensk lands with some strikes.
Svensk with shots to the head and body - Duarte looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Duarte wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Svensk tries to control but Duarte wriggling away.
Svensk unloading with bombs!
Duarte really wants to buck Svensk off and get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A bone on bone clash there as Duarte blocks the leg kick.
Duarte misses with a wild body shot.
Svensk wants to clinch up but Duarte keeps it at a distance.
Duarte swings away with a body shot that misses

so Svensk counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Duarte wants to stand up but Svensk is controlling him.
Svensk wants to control from the top but Duarte keeps moving.
Svensk is stalling in the full guard.
Svensk has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Svensk trying to control the position from guard on top but Duarte is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Duarte uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Svensk ducks under a wild hook from Duarte.
Nice jab there from Svensk.
Duarte thows a body shot but no joy.
Duarte on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Svensk. Svensk obviously looking to wear him down.
Svensk lands a jab-cross combination.
Svensk throws a leg kick but Duarte sees it coming and moves out of range.
Svensk lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Svensk.
Svensk moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Svensk instigates a clinch.
Svensk goes for a takedown attempt but Duarte pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Svensk.
Svensk slips a jab and a cross from Duarte.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Svensk closes the distance and clinches up with Duarte, looking for a takedown. Svensk pushes Duarte against the cage but Duarte circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thor Svensk. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Svensk slips under a jab.
Svensk closes the distance and clinches up with Duarte, looking for a takedown. Svensk pushes Duarte against the cage but Duarte circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Duarte scores with a sloppy right hand. Svensk should have avoided that one.
Duarte throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Svensk makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Svensk shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Svensk was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Duarte wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Duarte is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Svensk trying to control but he's not successful this time.
You get the feeling that Duarte really doesn't like being in this position too much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duarte really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Svensk. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Svensk landing shots from mount.
Duarte wants to try and get back to his feet.

Duarte bucks Svensk off and manages to get back to his feet!
Svensk pulls out of a head kick attempt.
TJ Duarte is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Svensk tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Duarte swivels and escapes.
Duarte circles away from the clinch attempt.

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.
Duarte throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Svensk counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Svensk.
Duarte is trying to break free.

Duarte breaks from the clinch.
Duarte cracks Svensk with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Svensk looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Duarte!

Duarte bucks Svensk off and manages to get back to his feet!
Svensk is looking to clinch.
Svensk tries to clinch up.
Duarte throws a looping overhand right but Svensk ducks down to avoid it.
Duarte throws a jab but it's blocked by Svensk.
Duarte looks to score with a jab to the body but Svensk is just out of range.
Svensk wants to clinch up but Duarte keeps it at a distance.
Duarte scores with a shot to the body.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Duarte crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Svensk - the referee stops the clock and Duarte gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Svensk. Duarte manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
A punch lands to the side of Svensk 's head but he takes it in his stride.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thor Svensk dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Thor Svensk's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Svensk shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Duarte lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Svensk takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Duarte digs a good body shot into Svensk's ribs.
Duarte misses with a series of wild punches.
Svensk fails in his attempt to clinch.

Svensk takes the fight into the clinch.

Duarte breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Duarte tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Svensk was well out of range. Poor timing from Duarte.
Nice shot by Svensk.
Duarte comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Svensk fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Duarte, pushing him back against the cage.

Svensk pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Duarte connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Svensk fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duarte ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Svensk moves away.
Duarte misses with a double jab.
Duarte fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Svensk changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Duarte looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Svensk wants to lay and pray for a moment but Duarte keeps working.

Svensk tries for a kimura but Duarte is defending well.
Duarte is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Svensk asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Svensk will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Svensk working the ground and pound from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Svensk looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Duarte is pushing Svensk's head away, looking to escape. Svensk manages to hold on to the position though.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Svensk shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Duarte but Duarte pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Svensk moves out of range as Duarte strikes.
A nice leg kick lands there from Svensk.
Thor Svensk is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Duarte misses with a straight right.
Svensk connects with a looping right hand.
Svensk wants to clinch.
A slow jab from Duarte misses its intended target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Svensk shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thor Svensk. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Duarte.
Svensk slips a straight right by Duarte.
Svensk lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Duarte throws a combination that misses
and Svensk counters with an inside leg kick.
Duarte misses with a straight left.
Nice straight punches there by Svensk. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Svensk.
Svensk uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Duarte.
TJ Duarte has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Duarte misses with a hook. Svensk ducked under it nicely.

Svensk changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Duarte looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Svensk is looking to take a break and control but Duarte is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Check out the look on Svensk's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

Duarte throws Svensk to one side and escapes!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Svensk fails in his attempt to clinch.
Duarte misses with a jab to the body

and Svensk counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Svensk.

Duarte's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Svensk displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Duarte throws out the jab.
Svensk on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
No luck for Svensk with that takedown attempt.
Duarte jabs Svensk right on the nose. Svensk blinks but takes it well.
Duarte looks to score with a jab to the body but Svensk is just out of range.
Duarte scores with a jab to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Svensk looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Duarte stuffs the takedown.
Svensk tries to clinch up but Duarte circles away and keeps his distance.
A combination from Duarte does no damage.
Thor Svensk is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Svensk clinches with his opponent.

Duarte escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Thor Svensk.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Svensk, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thor Svensk!