PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bruce Strong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ken Thunder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Strong comes into the arena with Silverchair- Freak blaring out of the sound system. Thunder has chosen Eminem - Bully as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Ken Thunder will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Strong
vs
Thunder

188 cm
26
245 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

188 cm
25
210 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bruce Strong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ken Thunder!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Summer Carpenter and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strong swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Thunder counters with a left and a right that stings Strong.
Strong tries to close the distance and clinch up but Thunder swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Thunder throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Strong.
Strong throws a right hand that Thunder ducks under and follows up with a left that Thunder also avoids with ease.
Thunder staying out of range there.
Strong fails with a takedown attempt.
Strong fails with a takedown attempt.
Thunder lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Strong circles away quickly and effectively.

Strong rushes Thunder and presses him up against the ropes.
Thunder is trying to break free.
Strong prevents Thunder from breaking the clinch.
Thunder wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Strong has him pressed against the ropes.
Strong lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Thunder backwards.
Thunder has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Thunder wants to get back to striking at distance but Strong won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Strong breaks the clinch.
Strong throws a left and a right that both miss
and Thunder counters with a left and a right that stings Strong.
Strong tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Thunder paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Strong clinches.

Strong breaks from the clinch.
Thunder keeps the fight on the outside.
Thunder avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Strong throws a right hand that Thunder ducks under and follows up with a left that Thunder also avoids with ease.
Strong is breathing heavily.
Strong tries to clinch but Thunder is having none of it.
Thunder checks the leg kick nicely there.
Bruce Strong seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No luck for Strong with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bruce Strong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thunder throws a nice looking combination but Strong bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Strong throws an off balance right hand
and Thunder counters with a three punch combo that has Strong backing up. Strong nods at Thunder to acknowledge the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thunder throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Strong.
No luck for Strong with that takedown attempt.
Thunder throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Strong throws a right hand that misses
and Thunder counters with a three punch combo that has Strong backing up. Strong nods at Thunder to acknowledge the strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Strong closes the distance and clinches up with Thunder, looking for a takedown. Strong pushes Thunder against the ropes but Thunder circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Strong has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Thunder throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Thunder throws a right and a left that Strong avoids nicely.
Strong throws a right hand that misses
and Thunder counters with a series of strikes. Strong will be more careful next time no doubt.
Strong tries to clinch up.
Thunder throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strong tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Thunder manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Thunder throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Strong rushes Thunder and presses him up against the ropes.
Strong doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Strong lands a hook that snaps the head of Thunder backwards.
Thunder is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Strong has Thunder pressed against the ropes, preventing Thunder from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Thunder wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Strong breaks the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thunder looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Strong fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Thunder pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Strong rushes Thunder and presses him up against the ropes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thunder blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Strong misses with a hook from the clinch.

Strong breaks the clinch.

Thunder gets tackled into the ropes by Strong. Strong maintains the clinch.

Strong pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Strong looks to clinch
and Thunder makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Strong swinging wildly here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thunder throws a combination. Strong tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Ken Thunder is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thunder misses with a two punch combination.
Thunder throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Thunder swats away the attempt to clinch by Strong.

Strong rushes Thunder and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Strong lands a right hand.
Strong doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Thunder is trying to break the clinch but Strong has him pressed against the ropes.

Strong breaks from the clinch.
Thunder throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Strong has closed the distance and engaged Thunder in a clinch.
Thunder throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Strongs head.
Strong misses with a short punch on the inside.
Strong has Thunder pressed against the ropes, preventing Thunder from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Thunder blocking some punches.
Strong lands a hook to the side of the head.
Thunder is trying to push Strong away but Strong has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Strong keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Thunder's efforts to push away.
Thunder tries to break the clinch but Strong is controlling the position.
Thunder is trying to break the clinch but Strong is controlling him.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Thunder is looking to break free of the clinch but Strong has double underhooks.
Thunder is trying to break free.

Strong breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Strong avoids a punch combination nicely.
Strong tries to clinch up but Thunder circles away and keeps his distance.
Strong misses with a takedown attempt - Thunder sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thunder keeps the fight on the outside.
Strong doesn't manage to clinch there - Thunder circles away.
Thunder tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Strong paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Strong misses with the combination.
Strong throws a series of punches but Thunder avoids them all with ease.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Thunder lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Thunder throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Strong.
Strong showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Thunder.
Strong shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Strong tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Thunder manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Thunder scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Strong tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Thunder swivels and escapes.
Strong misses with a jab, cross combination.
Thunder will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Strong checks a leg kick nicely.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Strong tries to clinch but Thunder moves out of range.
Strong throws a poor cross that misses
and Thunder counters with a left and a right that stings Strong.
Left hook, right uppercut from Thunder.
Strong misses with a left hand
and Thunder counters with a two punch combo.
Thunder blocks a jab.

Strong has closed the distance and engaged Thunder in a clinch.
Strong tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thunder presses Strong against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Thunder wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Thunder's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Strong fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Strong looks for a takedown but Thunder sprawls well.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Thunder throws a sloppy head kick and Strong moves out of range easily.
Strong tries to clinch but Thunder is having none of it.
Thunder feints a jab promting Strong to slip. Thunder then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Strong slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Thunder swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Strong throws a right hand that misses
and Thunder counters with a series of strikes. Strong will be more careful next time no doubt.
Thunder throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Strong.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thunder swinging wildly here.
Strong tries to close the distance and clinch up but Thunder swats him away and circles back towards the center.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ken Thunder will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Strong misses with a straight right.
Strong fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Thunder leaves Strong with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Thunder misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Bruce Strong is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thunder misses with a few strikes there.
Strong is looking to clinch.
Strong shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bruce Strong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thunder misses with a double jab.
That kick from Thunder tenderised Strong's leg. Strong is trying to keep his angry face on.
Thunder lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Thunder.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Strong wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunder misses with a series of wild punches.
Thunder throws a combination. Strong tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Thunder throws a right hand that Strong ducks under and follows up with a left that Strong also avoids with ease.
Strong tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Thunder swivels and escapes.
Strong tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Thunder manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Thunder throws a series of strikes that have Strong backpedaling.
Thunder misses with the combination.
Strong swings widly with a right hand
and Thunder counters with a two punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thunder throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Thunder scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Strong misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sloppy strikes from Thunder. Those never looked like landing.
Strong throws a series of punches but Thunder moves out of range.
A combination from Thunder does no damage.
Thunder is looking to chop away at Strong's legs.
Strong misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Good leg kick by Thunder there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Strong tries to clinch there but Thunder circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thunder throws a series of punches but Strong moves out of range.
Thunder is looking to slow Strong down with leg kicks.
Strong misses with a double jab
and Thunder counters with a nice leg kick.
Thunder scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Thunder will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Strong fails with a takedown attempt.
Thunder throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Strong fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strong shoots for a takedown but Thunder saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Some wild striking there from Thunder.
Thunder throws a right and a left that both miss.
Strong misses with a takedown attempt - Thunder sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Thunder keeps the fight on the outside.
Thunder misses with a double jab.
Strong is looking to clinch.
Strong swings widly with a right hand
and Thunder counters with a three punch combo that has Strong backing up. Strong nods at Thunder to acknowledge the strikes.
Strong shoots in for a takedown but Thunder shows good takedown defense.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Thunder moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Strong closes this distance looking for a takedown but Thunder circles away.
Strong misses with a left hand
and Thunder counters with a left and a right that stings Strong.
A punch combination from Thunder misses.
Thunder keeps the fight on the outside.
Strong tries to clinch but Thunder is having none of it.
Thunder scores with a one two! Strong had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Thunder showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Strong.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Strong. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Strong moves to clinch but Thunder breaks away
and Thunder counters with a series of strikes. Strong will be more careful next time no doubt.
Thunder throws a series of strikes that have Strong backpedaling.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Strong shoots in for a takedown but Thunder shows good takedown defense.
Strong tries to clinch up but Thunder circles away and keeps his distance.
Strong looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Thunder moves in looking to clinch but Strong pushes him off.
Strong shoots for a takedown but Thunder saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Thunder misses with a wild combination.
Strong shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Thunder sprawls well. Thunder wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Strong gets slowly back to his feet.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Thunder!
Strong doesn't manage to clinch there - Thunder circles away.
Thunder is working the combinations to good effect here.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Thunder avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Thunder misses with a few strikes there.
Thunder misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Thunder keeps the fight on the outside.
Strong tries to clinch but Thunder is having none of it.
Strong shoots in and drives through. Thunder sprawls well.
Thunder scores with a one two! Strong had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Thunder keeps the fight on the outside.
Strong tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Thunder counters with a two punch combo.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Strong throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Thunder counters with a series of strikes. Strong will be more careful next time no doubt.
Strong throws a series of punches but Thunder moves out of range.
Strong showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Thunder.
Strong swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Strong is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Thunder misses with a jab, cross combination.
A punch combination from Strong misses.
Strong misses with an uppercut
and Thunder counters with a one-two to the body.
Thunder misses with a wild combination.
Thunder lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Strong is looking to clinch but Thunder is avoiding it.

Strong has Thunder up against the ropes in a clinch.
Strong prevents Thunder from breaking the clinch.

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

Strong drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Strong stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Strong tries to close the distance and clinch up but Thunder swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Strong shoots in for a double leg but Thunder sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thunder buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Strong moves into the clinch successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ken Thunder will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Strong wants to clinch.
Some wild striking there from Strong.
Strong fails with a takedown attempt.
Strong tries to close the distance and clinch but Thunder swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strong tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Thunder swivels and escapes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Strong showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Thunder.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Strong.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bruce Strong. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunder throws a nice looking combination but Strong bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Strong throws a lazy uppercut
and Thunder counters with a one-two to the body.
Strong throws an off balance right hand
and Thunder counters with a good low kick that Strong was not able to check.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Thunder!
Thunder misses with the combination.
Thunder keeps the fight on the outside.
Strong bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Strong tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Thunder manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strong looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Thunder is fending him off so far but Strong persists. Nope, Thunder circles away and we're back to standing.
Some wild striking there from Thunder.
Thunder rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Strong moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Strong tries to clinch there but Thunder circles away.
Strong misses with a lunging right hand
and Thunder counters with a two punch combo.
Strong tries to clinch but Thunder is having none of it.
Strong misses with a two punch combination.
Thunder looks to land a combination but Strong avoids it well.
Thunder leaves Strong with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Thunder's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Thunder duly obliges.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thunder circles away from the clinch attempt.
Thunder throws a series of punches but Strong moves out of range.
Thunder tries to bum rush Strong with a series of wild strikes but Strong uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Thunder uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Strong.
No joy there for Strong, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Strong fails with an attempt to clinch.
Thunder swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Strong falls off balance throwing a combination
and Thunder counters with a series of strikes. Strong will be more careful next time no doubt.
Thunder circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strong tries to clinch but Thunder moves out of range.
Thunder keeps the fight on the outside.
Thunder avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Strong wants to clinch.
Strong swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Thunder counters with a left and a right that stings Strong.
Thunder cracks the inside of Strong's front leg.
Strong showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Thunder.
Strong misses with a wild combination.
Strong doesn't manage to clinch there - Thunder circles away.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Strong is looking to clinch.
Strong misses with a combination
and Thunder counters with a three punch combo that has Strong backing up. Strong nods at Thunder to acknowledge the strikes.
Strong will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Strong throws an off balance right hand
and Thunder counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Strong is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Thunder.
Strong throws a poor cross that misses
and Thunder counters with a one-two to the body.
Thunder swinging wildly here.
Thunder uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Strong.
Ken Thunder seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Thunder throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Strong.
Strong misses with a takedown attempt - Thunder sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Thunder circles away from the clinch attempt.
Thunder throws a one two combo.
Strong shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Thunder as he avoids it easily.
Strong tries to clinch up.
Strong tries to close the distance and clinch but Thunder swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Thunder throws a series of punches but Strong moves out of range.
Strong tries to clinch up but Thunder circles away and keeps his distance.

Strong clinches up against the ropes.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Strong lands a hook to the side of the head.
Thunder has had enough of the clinch but Strong keeps him there for the moment.
Strong working aggressively here.
Thunder wants to get back to striking at distance but Strong won't allow it.
Thunder tries to break the clinch but Strong is controlling the position.
Still in the clinch, Strong scores with a nice short uppercut.
A frustrated look appears on Thunder's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Strong breaks from the clinch.
Strong shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Thunder as he jumps to the side.
Strong tries to clinch but Thunder is having none of it.
Some wild striking there from Thunder.
Strong tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Strong tries to clinch but Thunder is having none of it.
Strong tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Thunder manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Thunder keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Strong rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Thunder counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Strong is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Strong moves to clinch but Thunder breaks away
and Thunder counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Strong tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Thunder manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Strong.
Strong has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Thunder throws a right and a left that both miss.
Strong fails with the takedown.
Strong throws a poor cross that misses
and Thunder counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Strong is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Strong falls off balance throwing a combination
and Thunder counters with a series of strikes. Strong will be more careful next time no doubt.
Thunder keeps the fight on the outside.
Strong closes this distance looking for a takedown but Thunder circles away.
Strong has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thunder throws a right hand that Strong ducks under and follows up with a left that Strong also avoids with ease.
Strong fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

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 Bruce Strong.
I think Thunder has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight for Ken Thunder!
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight as a draw!

The fight ends as a draw!