PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Samir Kahric (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Thane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kahric comes to the cage accompanied by When I Die - Genocide(Jusuf Dzilic). Samir Kahric has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kahric
vs
Thane

187 cm
27
170 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

175 cm
27
183 lbs
5 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Samir Kahric!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Thane!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Wesley Smith and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thane looks to throw the jab but Kahric is out of range.
Thane missing with a left hand there. Kahric was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Thane fails to land with a series of punches.
Kahric shoots in and drives through. Thane sprawls well.
Thane slaps away a takedown attempt from Kahric, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Thane keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samir Kahric. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thane loads up on a big right hand but Kahric slips the punch.
Kahric displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Thane throws out the jab.
Kahric defending well as Thane loads up on a big left hand.
A jab from Thane misses.
Thane throws a combination that misses

and Kahric counters with a takedown into side control.

Kahric thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
You can see the frustration on Thane's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Thane sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kahric is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Thane defends it well.
Kahric works his way into side control.
Thane is trying to control Kahric's posture but Kahric avoids it.

Kahric is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Thane knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Thane tries to improve position but can't.

Kahric tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kahric has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Thane tries to buck Kahric off but Kahric is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thane is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Thane wants to get back to full guard.

Kahric is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Thane trying to control here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Thane can do anything to dispel that myth.

Kahric is looking for a kimura but Thane is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kahric to get the leverage.

Kahric looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kahric is breathing heavily.
Thane regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thane is pulling down on Kahric's head. It's preventing any offense from Kahric, at least for the moment.
Kahric advances to half guard.

Kahric is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Thane tries to roll over but Kahric keeps him under control.

Kahric is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Thane as he works his way to full guard.
Kahric will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Kahric is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Thane is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Thane has escaped and now he's on top!

Thane controls from within his opponent's guard.

Kahric looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Thane passes into side control.
Kahric is trying to improve his position.
Thane really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kahric. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thane in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Kahric taking punishment in the form of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Michael Thane will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Some wild striking there from Thane.
Thane throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thane. Kahric does a little dance to reset his feet.

Kahric dives in and scores a takedown into Thane's guard.
Thane has Kahric pulled in close to control his posture.
Kahric prevents Thane from getting back to his feet.

Kahric has gone for a leg lock! Thane slips out almost immediately though and dives into Kahric's guard.

Kahric keeping moving, preventing Thane from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thane works over Kahric with some ground and pound from guard.

Kahric escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Thane gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Thane slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kahric has his foot on Thane's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Thane works his way back into a safe position though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thane stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kahric swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Kahric looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kahric has momentary wrist control but Thane slips an elbow through the middle.
Thane trying to control but Kahric is working from the bottom.
Thane is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Kahric working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Thane doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Thane manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Thane pushes down on Kahric's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thane moves nicely into side control.
Kahric is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at The Iron Palace, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Kahric tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kahric takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Thane controls the position from side control.
Kahric manages to work his way to half guard, despite Thane's best efforts.

Kahric is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Thane pulls his head out easily.
Thane is trying to control. Kahric wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kahric has hold of Thane's hands but Thane slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Kahric is staying active underneath Thane, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thane lands strikes from half guard.
Thane content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Let's hope that Thane has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Thane lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Kahric looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kahric is refusing to be controlled, as Thane sits in half guard.
Thane keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Thane is looking to advance position but Kahric won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Kahric has hold of Thane's hands but Thane slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Thane performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Kahric looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Thane stalling.

Kahric actively working from the bottom here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thane with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Thane wants to control but Kahric is keeping him busy.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Thane showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Kahric shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Thane's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kahric accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Samir Kahric overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Kahric has gone for a leg lock! Thane slips out almost immediately though and dives into Kahric's guard.

Kahric looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Thane wants to control from the top but Kahric keeps moving.
Thane controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Kahric throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thane slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Thane looking to pass the guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thane trying to control but Kahric is working from the bottom.
Thane is stalling in the full guard.
Thane wants to control from the top but Kahric keeps moving.
Thane lands a couple of elbows.
Thane wants to pass the guard but Kahric is keeping the position.

Kahric had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Thane defends it easily.
Thane pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kahric is keeping the position for now.

Kahric throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Thane trying to control but Kahric is working from the bottom.
Thane stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kahric swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Thane controlling from the top position.

Kahric is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Thane has his hands clasped together but Kahric extends and breaks Thane's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Kahric.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:47 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Samir Kahric!
An out of breath Samir Kahric thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.