PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ishyrun Thalis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johan Gunter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ishyrun Thalis could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Johan Gunter's chin.

Thalis
vs
Gunter

188 cm
21
208 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

193 cm
21
210 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ishyrun Thalis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Johan Gunter!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Joseph Jones and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thalis misses the jab.
Thalis throws a poor cross that misses

so Gunter counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gunter trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gunter's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Gunter looking to sit in guard and control but Thalis gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Thalis wants to stand but Gunter is controlling his posture from full guard.
Thalis trying to control the position from guard on top but Gunter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thalis wants to stand but Gunter has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Thalis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gunter is keeping the position for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Ishyrun Thalis.
Thalis throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gunter steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Thalis.

Gunter closes the distance and clinches.

Thalis is fighting off a takedown attempt but Gunter is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Thalis to the mat. Thalis regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Thalis is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Gunter must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Thalis preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gunter looking to sit in guard and control but Thalis gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Thalis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gunter is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thalis is looking to stand up but Gunter won't let him.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Gunter can do anything to dispel that myth.
Gunter keeping moving, preventing Thalis from controlling successfully.
Gunter seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Thalis tries to free his leg and advance position but Gunter is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ishyrun Thalis wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Good standup being displayed there by Thalis as he connects with a hook.

It looks like Johan Gunter has been cut.
Gunter gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gunter moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Gunter is rocked!
Gunter slips a jab from Thalis.
Gunter is still on wobbly legs! Can Thalis finish him?
The fighters circling - Thalis throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gunter stalks Thalis and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Thalis's face. Thalis staggers backwards, shaken.
Thalis misses with a straight left.
Thalis throws a looping overhand right but Gunter ducks down to avoid it.
Ishyrun Thalis is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thalis throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Gunter displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Thalis throws out the jab.
Thalis thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gunter seems to have recovered his senses.
Thalis throws a right hand that misses

and Gunter counters with a nice double leg into side control. Thalis won't be happy with that.
Thalis wants to control but Gunter postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thalis is not content to let Gunter control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ishyrun Thalis will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Johan Gunter's cut.
That's time! Thalis's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Gunter uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thalis.
Gunter takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Thalis misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gunter.

Gunter closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Thalis quickly recovers to half guard.
Thalis keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gunter throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Thalis is looking to control Gunter's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Thalis avoid being mounted?
Gunter with the ground and pound but Thalis uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gunter is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Johan Gunter was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Gunter uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thalis.
Thalis throws an off balance right hand

and Gunter moves into the clinch.
Thalis is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gunter leaning his opponent against the cage.

Gunter wants the takedown. Thalis is fighting it off but Gunter persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Thalis's guard against the cage.
Gunter throws an elbow that misses. Thalis uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gunter's guard. Nice move by Thalis!
Gunter preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Thalis postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gunter utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Thalis throws an elbow that misses. Gunter uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Thalis's guard. Nice move by Gunter!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thalis is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Gunter throwing strikes from guard but Thalis blocks nicely.
Thalis wants to sweep here but Gunter controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gunter looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gunter postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ishyrun Thalis wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Gunter throws a right and a left that Thalis avoids nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thalis misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Gunter avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Thalis throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Johan Gunter will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Johan Gunter's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Gunter pushes Thalis up against the cage in a clinch.
Thalis is trying to maintain a safe position but Gunter gets an underhook and turns Thalis into the cage.

Gunter lands a takedown into guard.
Thalis controls Gunter momentarily but Gunter frees himself.
Gunter content to stall in guard here.
Gunter wants to control from the top but Thalis keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Thalis misses the jab.
Thalis displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gunter throws out the jab.
Thalis jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Gunter bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gunter steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Thalis.
Good exchange - Thalis coming out on top.

Gunter darts in and clinches Thalis up against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Gunter.
Thalis is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Gunter is keeping busy.
Gunter stalls.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thalis looking to stall.

Gunter is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Thalis can't fight it off and eventually Gunter manages to take the fight to the floor. Thalis looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Gunter showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thalis keeping moving, preventing Gunter from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thalis has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Gunter has passed into side control.
Gunter with the ground and pound but Thalis regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Gunter is stalling here. Thalis is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Gunter seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Thalis has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thalis in side control, throwing shots but Gunter defends.
Thalis grinds an elbow into Gunter's temple.
Gunter prevents Thalis from moving into mount.
Gunter is not content to let Thalis control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johan Gunter comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Gunter 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight for Johan Gunter!
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight for Johan Gunter!
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight for Ishyrun Thalis!

Johan Gunter wins by split decision!