PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dice Thunderborn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Niko Sirkiä (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sirkiä has chosen Thergothon - Elemental as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Thunderborn
vs
Sirkiä

220 cm
34
276 lbs
23 - 14 - 0

178 cm
33
230 lbs
33 - 10 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Hellbent

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 23 - 14 - 0, fighting out of London, Dice Thunderborn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Niko Sirkiä!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Phil Schofield and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thunderborn misses with a body kick.
Sirkiä changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Thunderborn tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sirkiä paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sirkiä with the counter takedown but Thunderborn avoids it easily.
Thunderborn looks to score with a jab to the body but Sirkiä is just out of range.
Thunderborn just misses with a punch to the body.
Sirkiä with the counter takedown but Thunderborn avoids it easily.

Thunderborn drives through and clinches with Sirkiä against the cage.
Thunderborn has a couple of punches blocked by Sirkiä.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thunderborn prevents Sirkiä from breaking the clinch.
Sirkiä has had enough of the clinch but Thunderborn keeps him there for the moment.
Sirkiä prevents a body shot from Thunderborn.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sirkiä breaks from the clinch.
Dice Thunderborn is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sirkiä checks a leg kick nicely.
And Sirkiä tries to counter it with a takedown but Thunderborn pushes his down on his head and steps out.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thunderborn. Sirkiä does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sirkiä with the counter takedown but Thunderborn avoids it easily.
Thunderborn is looking to slow Sirkiä down with leg kicks.
Thunderborn misses the shot to the body.
Sirkiä feints the counter takedown.
Thunderborn scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Thunderborn throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sirkiä with the counter takedown but Thunderborn avoids it easily.
Thunderborn throws a front kick aimed at Sirkiä's knee but Sirkiä avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thunderborn jabs at Sirkiä's body.
Thunderborn tries to clinch there but Sirkiä circles away.
Sirkiä with the counter takedown but Thunderborn avoids it easily.
Thunderborn scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Thunderborn scores with a jab.
Thunderborn wants to clinch up but Sirkiä keeps it at a distance.
Thunderborn shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Sirkiä drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Thunderborn defends it well.
Thunderborn swings away with a leg kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thunderborn swings for the body but Sirkiä moves out of range.
Sirkiä is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Thunderborn connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Thunderborn swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Thunderborn is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Thunderborn tries to clinch but Sirkiä moves out of range.
Sirkiä drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Thunderborn defends it well.
A big right from Thunderborn misses.
Sirkiä with the counter takedown but Thunderborn avoids it easily.
Thunderborn is looking to clinch.
Sirkiä drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Thunderborn defends it well.
Sirkiä has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Thunderborn takes a swing at Sirkiä's ribcage but misses.
Sirkiä drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Thunderborn defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thunderborn throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sirkiä sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sirkiä is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Thunderborn tries to clinch

and Sirkiä counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Sirkiä is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Sirkiä thows a huge punch but Thunderborn dodges it nicely.

Sirkiä is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Thunderborn is just riding it out for now. Sirkiä eventually gives up the hold.
Sirkiä working the head and body with strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sirkiä is trying to control. Thunderborn wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Sirkiä tries to pass the half guard into mount. Thunderborn knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Sirkiä lands with a punch from half guard.
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!
Thunderborn wants to control but Sirkiä is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dice Thunderborn dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Thunderborn misses the shot to the body.
Thunderborn connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Thunderborn slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Thunderborn is looking to clinch.
Thunderborn tries to clinch up but Sirkiä circles away and keeps his distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thunderborn fails in his attempt to clinch.
We've been told by Thunderborn's head coaches at Total Impact that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Thunderborn tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sirkiä with the counter takedown but Thunderborn avoids it easily.
Thunderborn misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunderborn lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sirkiä's sensitive parts.
Thunderborn misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sirkiä.
Sirkiä drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Thunderborn defends it well.
A low kick from Thunderborn misses

and Sirkiä counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Thunderborn will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Sirkiä loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Thunderborn avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sirkiä slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sirkiä's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sirkiä's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Thunderborn is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Thunderborn is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thunderborn is pulling down on Sirkiä's head to control his posture.
Thunderborn keeping full guard, as Sirkiä tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thunderborn is trying to control the position but Sirkiä postures up.
Sirkiä with a flurry of punches that miss.
Thunderborn controls Sirkiä momentarily but Sirkiä frees himself.
Sirkiä scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Thunderborn holds on and takes a little breather.
Sirkiä has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sirkiä scoring with punches to the head and body.
Thunderborn is adopting a defensive guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sirkiä throwing strikes but missing.
Thunderborn seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Dice Thunderborn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thunderborn wants to clinch up but Sirkiä keeps it at a distance.
Thunderborn swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Thunderborn throws out a leg kick but Sirkiä moves out of range and Thunderborn only half commits.
Sirkiä changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Good work by Sirkiä as he checks the leg kick.
Sirkiä with the counter takedown but Thunderborn avoids it easily.
Sirkiä has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Thunderborn finds it's way round the side to connect with Sirkiä's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thunderborn scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Thunderborn lands with a nice body kick.
Thunderborn clobbers Sirkiä with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Thunderborn throws an overhand right that lands on Sirkiä's shoulder, as Sirkiä tries to avoid the shot.
Sirkiä feints the counter takedown.
Thunderborn looks to throw the jab but Sirkiä is out of range.
Sirkiä with the counter takedown but Thunderborn avoids it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thunderborn takes a swing at Sirkiä's ribcage but misses.
Sirkiä feints the counter takedown.
Thunderborn misses with a looping left.
Sirkiä feints the counter takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dice Thunderborn dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Thunderborn feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Sirkiä's calf.
Thunderborn throws a head kick that misses.
Sirkiä drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Thunderborn defends it well.
Thunderborn throws a body shot but no joy.
A bone on bone clash there as Sirkiä blocks the leg kick.
Thunderborn digs a good hook to Sirkiä's body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sirkiä uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thunderborn.
Sirkiä is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Thunderborn is looking to wear down Sirkiä with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Thunderborn doesn't manage to clinch there - Sirkiä circles away.
Thunderborn misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sirkiä.

That's one minute gone in the round.
That kick from Thunderborn tenderised Sirkiä's leg. Sirkiä is trying to keep his angry face on.
Thunderborn scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Dice Thunderborn is winning the standup battle so far.
Sirkiä checks a low kick from Thunderborn.
Sirkiä tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Thunderborn misses with a body shot.
Sirkiä feints the counter takedown.
Thunderborn moves in looking to clinch but Sirkiä pushes him off.
Sirkiä changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Thunderborn scores with a nice strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thunderborn throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sirkiä feints the counter takedown.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Thunderborn, as that shot connected.
Jab from Thunderborn.
Sirkiä checks a low kick from Thunderborn.
Thunderborn misses with a wild body shot.
Thunderborn is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And Sirkiä tries to counter it with a takedown but Thunderborn pushes his down on his head and steps out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sirkiä avoids the body shot from Thunderborn.
Sirkiä tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Thunderborn fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sirkiä feints the counter takedown.
Sirkiä on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Sirkiä keeps the fight on the outside.
Sirkiä tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Thunderborn misses the jab.
Thunderborn is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sirkiä can do to turn this around?
Thunderborn tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Thunderborn bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thunderborn fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sirkiä is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thunderborn looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sirkiä drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Thunderborn defends it well.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thunderborn. Sirkiä does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sirkiä changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Niko Sirkiä has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thunderborn tries to clinch up but Sirkiä circles away and keeps his distance.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thunderborn throws a head kick but Sirkiä moves out of range.
Sirkiä is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Thunderborn misses with a wild body shot.
Sirkiä drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Thunderborn defends it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dice Thunderborn showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Thunderborn, 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dice Thunderborn!
An out of breath Dice Thunderborn thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
Niko Sirkiä was interviewed post fight and said '"That is not dead which can eternal lie, and with strange aeons even death may die." '.