PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sundar Thapa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kurt Kendall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kendall has chosen Kool Moe Dee - I Go To Work as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Kurt Kendall is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Thapa
vs
Kendall

187 cm
20
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
30
248 lbs
16 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 Las Vegas, Sundar Thapa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 15 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kurt Kendall!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, John Roberts and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kendall connects with a jab.
Kendall uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thapa.
Thapa fails to land the takedown.
Kendall changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Kendall throws out a loose jab but Thapa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Thapa throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kendall sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kendall scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Kendall with a hook.
No luck for Thapa with that takedown attempt.

Thapa looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Thapa advances to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thapa content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Thapa seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Kendall for as long as he can get away with.
Thapa works his way into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thapa controls the position.

Thapa looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Thapa is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Kendall's shoulder. That is not cool.
Thapa trying to control the position but Kendall is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Thapa crashes against the mat.
Thapa takes a little break here. Kendall wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Sundar Thapa.
Thapa misses with a lunging right hand
and Kendall counters with a left and a right that stings Thapa.
Thapa on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thapa misses with a jab to the body
and Kendall connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kendall.
Thapa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kendall was well out of range. Poor timing from Thapa.
Sundar Thapa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A big left from Thapa misses.
Thapa shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kendall counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sundar Thapa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kendall ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kendall tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Thapa closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Kendall's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kendall looking for a sweep. Not yet Kendall, not yet.
Thapa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kendall swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sundar Thapa dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kendall displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Thapa throws out the jab.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Kendall enables Thapa to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Kendall manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Thapa trying to control the position from guard on top but Kendall is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thapa throws a big right hand that misses.
Thapa content to stall in guard here.

Thapa drops back, looking for a kneebar! Kendall looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Kendall looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Kendall!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thapa manages to get back to half guard.
Thapa slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kendall wants to get up but he can't break Thapa's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Thapa lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kendall!
Thapa looking to finish with strikes here!
Thapa controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thapa is looking to work his way around to Kendall's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Thapa controlling the position easily from mount.
Thapa thowing shots but they're missing.

Thapa is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Kendall has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Kendall!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thapa is controlling Kendall's posture.

Sundar Thapa has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Thapa swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Thapa throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Kendall was covering up waiting for the punch and Thapa finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kendall wants to stand but Thapa is controlling the position.
Thapa tries to free his leg and advance position but Kendall is retaining full guard.
Kendall looking for a sweep. Not yet Kendall, not yet.
Thapa is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thapa wants to control from the top but Kendall keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sundar Thapa dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Thapa blocks a head kick by Kendall.
Thapa thows a body shot but no joy.
Thapa throws a hook to the side of Kendall's head but Kendall sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Thapa shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kendall makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Kendall misses with a wild body shot.
Some wild striking there from Thapa.
Thapa misses with a two punch combination.
Sundar Thapa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Thapa drives through with a takedown into guard.
Thapa wants to pass the guard but Kendall is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thapa stands and throws Kendall's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Kendall seems a little lost for a moment, as Thapa dominates the positioning.
Sundar Thapa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Kendall throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Thapa slips under a jab.
Kendall throws a shot from downtown. Thapa moves away and avoids it.
Thapa looks to land a left hand but Kendall moved out of range nicely.
Thapa tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kendall swivels and escapes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thapa has his takedown stuffed
and Kendall counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sundar Thapa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thapa slips under a jab from Kendall.
Thapa just misses with a punch to the body.
Kendall tries to score with a low kick but Thapa moves his leg out of the way.
Thapa swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Thapa checks a low kick from Kendall.
Kendall keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Thapa misses with a shot to the body
and Kendall counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Kendall throws a hook to the side of Thapa's head but Thapa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kendall leaves Thapa with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kendall misses with a wild combination.
Thapa tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kendall sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Thapa somewhat.
Thapa looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Thapa with a poor takedown
and Kendall counters with an outside leg kick.
Thapa misses with a hook
and Kendall counters with a nice body shot.
Thapa shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kendall as he avoids it easily.
Thapa rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kendall moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thapa checks the leg kick.
Kendall will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kurt Kendall has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kendall misses with a looping left.
Thapa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kendall manages to avoid it.
Thapa staying out of range there.
Kendall stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kendall wants it to stay on the feet.
Thapa throws a hook but Kendall avoids it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thapa shoots in looking for a takedown. Kendall tries to sprawl out of it but Thapa keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kendall manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Thapa keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kendall.

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 Sundar Thapa.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Thapa, 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sundar Thapa!
After the fight, Sundar Thapa was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.