PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Weak Knees (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Thunders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thunders has chosen Johnny Thunders - Chinese Rocks as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Knees
vs
Thunders

190 cm
19
190 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

186 cm
22
198 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

KING NUTRITION

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Weak Knees!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Johnny Thunders!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thunders shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Thunders showed some decent athleticism there.
Knees is trying to get back to full guard.
Knees wants to get back to his feet.
Knees is refusing to be controlled, as Thunders sits in half guard.
Thunders looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Knees is pressing down on Thunders's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Thunders throws a big right hand that misses.
Thunders scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Thunders throws and elbow that misses. Knees uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Thunders's guard. Nice move by Knees!
Thunders is trying to control the position but Knees postures up.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Knees tries to free his leg and advance position but Thunders is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunders looking for a sweep. Not yet Thunders, not yet.
Knees with a flurry of punches that miss.
Thunders lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Knees!
Knees in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Knees working to try and regain half guard.
Knees is trying to stand up.
Thunders punching from mount but Knees doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Thunders trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Thunders misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

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.
Knees keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Knees takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Thunders has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Knees takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Knees tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
BOOM! Thunders connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Thunders is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Knees has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Knees is wriggling around trying to escape.
Thunders working the ground and pound effectively.
Thunders avoids the attempt from Knees to control.
Thunders fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thunders unloads with some shots from mount but Knees bucks and avoids them well.
Thunders raining down shots from the mount!
Thunders thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Thunders misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
A nice elbow there by Thunders.
Thunders throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Knees is desperately trying to improve his position but Thunders has a good base and remains in mount.

Thunders moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Knees has worked his arm free - good work by Knees!
Thunders looks gassed!
Thunders lands a nice forearm strike.
Sloppy strikes there by Thunders.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Thunders misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thunders in side control, throwing shots but Knees defends.
Thunders misses with the ground and pound.
Knees is trying to improve his position.
Thunders working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Thunders working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Thunders cracks Knees with a big elbow.
Thunders working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Knees is looking for a sweep.
Thunders misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Knees is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Knees wants to get back to full guard.
Knees tries to kick Thunders off but Thunders keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Thunders dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Thunders throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Knees doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Thunders counters with a shoot takedown. Knees fights it but they end up in guard.
Thunders prevents Knees from getting back to his feet.
Knees utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Knees working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thunders.
Thunders in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Johnny Thunders has got the better of the ground game so far.
Thunders prevents Knees from getting back to his feet.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Thunders's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Thunders thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Knees looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Thunders working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Knees is on top in guard.
Knees throwing strikes from guard but Thunders blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knees pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thunders is keeping the position for now.
Knees in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Thunders wants to sweep here but Knees controlling him for the moment.
Knees trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Thunders manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Knees manages to get himself to full guard.
Thunders wants to control from the top but Knees keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Thunders trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Knees controls Thunders momentarily but Thunders frees himself.
Thunders throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Knees works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Thunders working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Thunders thows a big elbow that misses.
Thunders prevents Knees from getting back to his feet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Knees looks to clinch

and Thunders counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Knees working a defensive guard here.
Thunders stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Knees swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Thunders keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Knees's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thunders lands a couple of digs.
Thunders content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Thunders trying to control the position from guard on top but Knees is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Knees keeping full guard, as Thunders tries to pass.
Knees preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Thunders missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Thunders preventing the sweep.
Thunders loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Thunders loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Knees looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's four 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.
Knees falls off balance throwing a combination

and Thunders counters with a takedown into side control.
Knees tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Thunders working the head and body with strikes.
Thunders scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Knees to see if he's OK.
Thunders working away.
Thunders lands a decent elbow from side control.

Thunders tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Knees gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thunders throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Thunders showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Knees's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Knees tries to clinch up
and Thunders counters with a two punch combo.
Knees throws a head kick but Thunders moves out of range.

Thunders shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Thunders connects with a nice short shot to Knees's temple.
Thunders throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Knees trying to hold on to Thunders's head to control him but Thunders postures up.
Thunders thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Knees's head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Knees looks like he's trying to stand up.
Knees is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunders prevents Knees from standing back up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Knees lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Thunders turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Knees tries for a takedown but Thunders sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Thunders gets the takedown into side control.
Thunders landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Thunders is putting a hurting on Knees here, landing some big shots from side control.
Thunders working the ground and pound.
Thunders working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Knees takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Knees takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thunders scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Knees to see if he's OK.
Knees is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Thunders missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Thunders scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Knees trying to control from the bottom.
Thunders lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thunders thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Knees's head.
Thunders has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Knees wants to try and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knees is trying desperately to improve position.
Thunders has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Thunders in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Thunders is giving the impression that he's looking to ground and pound but he switches suddenly into a beautiful far side armbar! Knees is forced to tap! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:39 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Johnny Thunders! Johnny Thunders retains his middleweight title!