PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dr Thork (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oko Poli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Thork
vs
Poli

175 cm
23
165 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

172 cm
25
165 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Brawler
Good gas tank

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 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dr Thork!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Oko Poli!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Frank Dennis and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Poli fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Poli on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Poli tries for a takedown but Thork circles away easily
and Thork counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A jab from Thork misses.
Thork moves into range and connects with a jab.
Poli shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Thork as he jumps to the side.
Dr Thork has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oko Poli.
Poli takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Poli takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Poli shoots in for a takedown but Thork shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Poli walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Thork connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thork connects with a right hand. Poli shakes it off.
Poli fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poli shoots in looking for a takedown but Thork manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Poli's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
It looks like Thork has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.

Poli changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Thork looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Thork throws Poli to one side and escapes!
Poli walks into a stiff left hand from Thork.
Poli shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Thork sprawls well. Thork wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Poli gets slowly back to his feet.
Thork connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Horrible takedown attempt by Poli or perhaps it was just good defense by Thork, which made it look bad.
Poli ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Thork connects with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Poli.
Thork is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Poli steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Thork.
Poli has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Thork finds it's way round the side to connect with Poli's head.
Thork throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Thork misses with a looping right.
Thork throws a big shot that misses.
Poli displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Thork throws out the jab.
Poli ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Poli shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Thork defends it nicely.
Thork cracks Poli with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Thork scores with the left hand. Poli knows he should have avoided that one.
Poli misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poli takes a shot right to the bread basket.
A punch lands to the side of Poli 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Poli tries for a takedown but Thork circles away easily
and Poli takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Thork throws an overhand right that lands on Poli's shoulder, as Poli tries to avoid the shot.
Poli tries for a takedown but Thork sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Thork throws a hook but Poli blocks it.
Poli tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Dr Thork is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Poli shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Thork napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Poli working away.
Thork tries to improve position but can't.
Poli trying to control the position but Thork is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Poli tries for a kimura but Thork is defending well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thork is trying to get back to half guard.
Thork is working hard here to advance position.
Thork is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Poli's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Poli is trying to control the action in half guard but Thork is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Poli is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Thork doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Poli.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thork has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Poli is working away from the top position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dr Thork dominated that round.
That's time! Thork's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Poli shoots in and bounces Thork off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Poli postures up.
Poli trying to control the position from guard on top but Thork is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thork trying to control the position.
My spies in The Gym inform me that Poli has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Thork wants to get back to his feet but Poli is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thork is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Poli got a little sloppy there for a moment and Thork has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Poli has managed to get both his arms back between Thork's legs - danger averted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poli won't allow Thork to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A slow jab from Thork misses its intended target.
Thork misses with a looping left.
Poli shoots in and drives through. Thork sprawls well.
Thork feinted with a counter takedown.
Poli misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Dr Thork is winning the standup battle so far.
Thork missing with a left hand there. Poli was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A slow jab from Thork misses its intended target.
Poli closes this distance looking for a takedown but Thork circles away.
Dr Thork has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oko Poli.
Thork lands with a right hand.
Thork is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Poli can do to turn this around?
Poli looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Thork looks to land a left hand but Poli moved out of range nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poli slips a straight right by Thork.
Thork misses with a straight left.
Poli tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Thork misses with an uppercut

so Poli counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Poli wants to control from the top but Thork keeps moving.

Thork had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Poli defends it easily.
Poli wants to pass the guard but Thork is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thork looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Poli trying to control but Thork is working from the bottom.
Oko Poli has got the better of the ground game so far.
Thork trying to keep a closed guard but Poli is proving a slippery customer.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Thork misses with an uppercut.
Poli shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
A swing and a miss from Thork.
Thork throws the left hand but Poli avoids the punch easily.
Poli shoots in looking for a takedown. Thork tries to sprawl out of it but Poli keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Thork manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thork scores with a jab. Poli acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Oko Poli is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thork misses with a body shot.
Thork lunges at Poli with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Poli's hand.
A cross from Thork lands.
Poli uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Thork.
No luck for Poli with that takedown attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thork stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Thork wants it to stay on the feet.
Poli moves out of range of the strikes.
Poli changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Thork listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thork scores with a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dr Thork dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Poli on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Dr Thork seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Poli throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Thork was covering up waiting for the punch and Poli finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Thork looking for a sweep. Not yet Thork, not yet.
Poli won't allow Thork to get back to his feet.
Thork doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Poli postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Thork is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Poli, into his guard.

Thork trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Poli keeping moving, preventing Thork from controlling successfully.
Thork has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Poli looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Thork wants to control from the top but Poli keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Poli has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Thork is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Poli.

Thork looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Poli is looking for a sweep.
Thork scores with punches from side control.
Poli is not content to let Thork control the position.
Thork landing a few strikes.
Poli tries to improve position but can't.
Thork throwing shots but missing, from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thork throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poli is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Thork's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Poli is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Thork is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Thork missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Thork is looking to take a break and control but Poli is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Poli looking for submissions off his back.
Poli moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Thork 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.

Thork got a little sloppy there for a moment and Poli has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Thork has managed to get both his arms back between Poli's legs - danger averted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Poli working for a triangle but Thork defends it easily.
Poli takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Thork throwing strikes from guard but Poli blocks nicely.
Thork content to stall in guard here.
Dr Thork is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Thork continues to stall.

Poli looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Thork passes into side control.
Poli tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Thork wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Thork is trying to get an arm triangle but Poli is defending well.
Thork is looking to take a break and control but Poli is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Thork is really struggling to control Poli but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Poli is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Thork's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Thork is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Thork in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Poli tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Thork!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Dr Thork!
During a confident post fight interview, Dr Thork thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.