PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jack Ripper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rolf Thorkildsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thorkildsen has chosen AC/DC - Hell's Bells as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ripper
vs
Thorkildsen

170 cm
27
167 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

176 cm
28
165 lbs
14 - 11 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

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 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jack Ripper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rolf Thorkildsen!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thorkildsen swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Ripper counters with a stiff right hand.
A cross from Thorkildsen lands.

It looks like Jack Ripper has been cut.
Thorkildsen misses with a body punch
and Ripper counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Thorkildsen throws a jab when Ripper was well out of range.
Thorkildsen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ripper.
Ripper misses with a low kick.
Ripper gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Thorkildsen throws a lazy uppercut
and Ripper counters with a left and a right that stings Thorkildsen.
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!
Thorkildsen closes the distance and clinches up with Ripper, looking for a takedown. Thorkildsen pushes Ripper against the cage but Ripper circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Thorkildsen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ripper displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Thorkildsen throws out the jab.
Rolf Thorkildsen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thorkildsen looks to score with a jab to the body but Ripper is just out of range.
Thorkildsen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ripper pinned against the cage. Ripper gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Jack Ripper is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thorkildsen looks to land a right hand but Ripper moved out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thorkildsen. Ripper does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ripper blocks a jab.
Ripper scores with a hook to the body. Thorkildsen takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thorkildsen just misses with a punch to the body.
Thorkildsen misses with a straight right.
Good work by Thorkildsen as he checks the leg kick.
Thorkildsen scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Thorkildsen looks to score with a jab to the body but Ripper is just out of range.
Ripper scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

It looks like Rolf Thorkildsen has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thorkildsen lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
A cross from Ripper lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ripper feints a jab promting Thorkildsen to slip. Ripper then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Thorkildsen slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Ripper avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ripper looks to score with a jab to the body but Thorkildsen is just out of range.
Thorkildsen stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Thorkildsen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ripper.
Thorkildsen ducks under a wild hook from Ripper.
Ripper moves out of range of the strikes.
Ripper takes one to the chin there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A decent looking cross lands there for Ripper.
Thorkildsen connects with a leg kick. Ripper looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Thorkildsen misses the jab.
Thorkildsen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ripper tests Thorkildsen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Thorkildsen attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Thorkildsen dives in and grabs Ripper's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ripper pushes down on Thorkildsen's head and hops out.
Jack Ripper has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rolf Thorkildsen.
Thorkildsen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ripper.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rolf Thorkildsen will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Nice sprawl there from Ripper as Thorkildsen shoots in.
Ripper ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thorkildsen moves away.
Ripper looks to land a right hand but Thorkildsen moved out of range.
Thorkildsen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ripper misses with an uppercut
and Thorkildsen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
The fighters circle momentarily. Thorkildsen darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Ripper connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Thorkildsen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ripper manages to avoid it.

Thorkildsen decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thorkildsen wants to take a breather but Ripper is having none of it.
Ripper blocking the ground and pound attempt from Thorkildsen.
Ripper keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Thorkildsen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Thorkildsen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ripper's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thorkildsen prevents Ripper from improving his position.
Thorkildsen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Thorkildsen scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Thorkildsen prevents Ripper from standing back up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thorkildsen takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Thorkildsen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ripper tries to get to full guard but Thorkildsen has control of the leg.
Thorkildsen scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ripper trying to control but Thorkildsen postures up.
Thorkildsen missing with the ground and pound from 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. Thorkildsen connects with a nice short shot to Ripper's temple.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thorkildsen looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Thorkildsen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Thorkildsen throwing shots but Ripper is blocking nicely.

Thorkildsen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Thorkildsen lands with a punch from half guard.
Thorkildsen is taking a breather. Ripper says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Ripper is in trouble now - Thorkildsen has advanced to mount!
Thorkildsen trying to control but Ripper is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thorkildsen raining down hammerfists from mount.
Ripper really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Thorkildsen looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Thorkildsen trying to control but Ripper is having none of it.
The referee warns Ripper that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
A nice elbow there by Thorkildsen.
Ripper wants to hold on but Thorkildsen pushes him away.
Thorkildsen working away from the top, dropping strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thorkildsen pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ripper bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Thorkildsen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Thorkildsen pulls Ripper in to control the position.

Thorkildsen has his foot on Ripper's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ripper works his way back into a safe position though.

Thorkildsen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ripper defends it easily.
Ripper is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Thorkildsen is looking for a triangle but Ripper pushes his legs off easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Thorkildsen has his foot on Ripper's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ripper works his way back into a safe position though.
Thorkildsen lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ripper!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rolf Thorkildsen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

The crowd cheers as Ripper lands an impressive looking overhand right. Thorkildsen doesn't seem phased though.
Thorkildsen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Thorkildsen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ripper misses with an uppercut. Thorkildsen saw that one coming.
Ripper leaves Thorkildsen with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Thorkildsen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thorkildsen takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Thorkildsen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ripper throws out a leg kick but Thorkildsen moves out of range and Ripper only half commits.
Ripper digs a good hook to Thorkildsen's body.
Jack Ripper is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Thorkildsen has closed the distance and engaged Ripper in a clinch.
Ripper is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Thorkildsen is keeping busy.
Nice body punch from Thorkildsen - that landed with a thud.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Ripper.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ripper.

Thorkildsen breaks the clinch.
Ripper moves out of range of the body kick.
Ripper does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Thorkildsen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Thorkildsen with a hook.
Ripper scores with a nice right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thorkildsen stalks Ripper and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Ripper's face. Ripper staggers backwards, shaken.
Thorkildsen scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thorkildsen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ripper was well out of range. Poor timing from Thorkildsen.
A big right from Thorkildsen misses.
Jack Ripper has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thorkildsen misses the shot to the body.
Thorkildsen misses with the combination.
Thorkildsen takes a swing at Ripper's ribcage but misses.
Ripper misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ripper misses with a leg kick
and Thorkildsen counters with a straight right hand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thorkildsen scores with a jab to the jaw.
Ripper displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Thorkildsen.
Jack Ripper has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rolf Thorkildsen.
Thorkildsen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ripper's jab looks to have found its range, popping Thorkildsen under the eye.
Ripper takes a shot right to the bread basket.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thorkildsen swings and misses with a hook to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rolf Thorkildsen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Thorkildsen has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rolf Thorkildsen!