PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alasdair Thacker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rikkard Hanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alasdair Thacker has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Thacker
vs
Hanson

175 cm
30
197 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

185 cm
28
191 lbs
14 - 10 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Amped Performance

Red Light Coffeeshop

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Alasdair Thacker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rikkard Hanson!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Daniel Franklin and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thacker connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Thacker connects with a crisp jab.

Hanson feints and as Thacker raises his hands in defense, Hanson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hanson trying to control but Thacker is working from the bottom.
Hanson throws a big elbow that misses.
Thacker keeping moving, preventing Hanson from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Thacker is looking for a triangle but Hanson pushes his legs off easily.
Hanson stopping the sweep attempt from Thacker.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thacker keeping full guard, as Hanson tries to pass.
Hanson stands and throws Thacker's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Thacker's coaches at Jed's Gym have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Thacker is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Hanson is looking to take a break and control but Thacker is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Thacker wants to get back to full guard.
Hanson trying to control from half guard but Thacker is working away.
Thacker wants to get back to full guard.
Thacker taking some punishment here, with Hanson in his half guard.

Hanson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Thacker doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hanson.
Thacker manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Thacker keeping moving, preventing Hanson from controlling successfully.
Thacker pulls Hanson in close to prevent any damage.
Thacker not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
My spies in Private Training Center inform me that Hanson has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Hanson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Hanson staying calm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thacker tries to buck Hanson off but Hanson is having none of it.

Hanson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Thacker tries to bench press Hanson off him but Hanson keeps the position.
Thacker struggling a bit here.
Thacker tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Hanson wants to control but Thacker is keeping him busy.
Hanson advances to full mount.
Hanson lands a big shot there that rocks Thacker but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Hanson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Thacker is looking to escape.
Hanson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
BOOM! Hanson connects with a massive shot to the dome!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rikkard Hanson dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Thacker throws out a loose jab but Hanson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hanson tries a head kick but it misses.
Thacker tries to close the distance and clinch but Hanson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hanson misses with a left hand
and Thacker counters with a nice uppercut.
A jab from Hanson misses.
Hanson misses with a looping left.
Thacker pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Hanson tries to keep at a distance but Thacker has taken the fight into the clinch.
Thacker swings wildly with an uppercut but Hanson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hanson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Thacker is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thacker lands a right hand.
Thacker swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Thacker is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Hanson is keeping busy.
Thacker tries to throw a body punch but Hanson avoids it by throwing Thacker back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanson is trying to pull guard but Thacker turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Hanson tries for a takedown. No joy.
Alasdair Thacker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rikkard Hanson.
Thacker misses with a hook from the clinch.

Hanson wants the takedown. Thacker is fighting it off but Hanson persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Thacker's guard against the cage.

Thacker is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hanson is looking to work some ground and pound but Thacker has wrist control.
Thacker keeping moving, preventing Hanson from controlling successfully.
Thacker looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hanson is one step ahead there.
Thacker is trying to control the position but Hanson postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Hanson wants to free his trapped foot but Thacker is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Thacker is refusing to be controlled, as Hanson sits in half guard.

Thacker is defending against the submission attempts here by Hanson.
Thacker is in trouble now - Hanson has advanced to mount!
Hanson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Thacker is working to get back to half guard.
Hanson tries to control but Thacker wriggling away.
Thacker tries to hold on but Hanson postures up.
Hanson looking to control but Thacker is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

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.
Hanson controlling his opponent.
Hanson lands a big shot there that rocks Thacker but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Hanson controlling the position easily from mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thacker is trying desperately to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rikkard Hanson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Thacker tries to clinch up.
Hanson let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Thacker ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hanson moves away.
Hanson drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Thacker defends it well.
Nice takedown defense from Thacker. No joy for Hanson on that attempt.
Thacker moves out of range of the body kick.
Nice defenses there by Hanson.
Hanson dives in and grabs Thacker's left leg, looking for a takedown. Thacker pushes down on Hanson's head and hops out.
The fighters circling - Thacker throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Thacker avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hanson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Hanson gets a clinch.
Thacker is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice right hand lands inside from Thacker.
Hanson is working for takedown but Thacker is calmly controlling the position for now.
Alasdair Thacker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rikkard Hanson.
A nice right hand lands inside from Thacker.
Hanson blocking some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanson wants to take the fight to the mat but Thacker manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Thacker with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Hanson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hanson shoots in but no luck this time.

Hanson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Ground and pound from Hanson.
Hanson is trying to control. Thacker wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Thacker moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Thacker working a defensive guard here.
Hanson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thacker trying to control the position here.
Thacker keeping full guard, as Hanson tries to pass.
Thacker looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hanson is one step ahead there.
Hanson tries to free his leg and advance position but Thacker is retaining full guard.
Thacker keeping moving, preventing Hanson from controlling successfully.
Hanson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanson bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Thacker looks to score with a jab to the body but Hanson is just out of range.
Rikkard Hanson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hanson throws a series of punches but Thacker moves out of range.
Thacker misses with a wild combination.
Hanson looks to land a combination but Thacker avoids it well.
Thacker scores with a crisp jab that stopped Hanson in his tracks.
Alasdair Thacker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alasdair Thacker is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Hanson.
Hanson misses with a takedown attempt
and Thacker counters with a two punch combo.
Hanson tries for a takedown but Thacker sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Thacker displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hanson.
Hanson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Thacker throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Thacker doesn't manage to clinch there - Hanson circles away.
Hanson changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thacker closes the distance and pushes Hanson back into the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thacker fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
The referee is keeping an eye on Thacker - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Hanson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Thacker gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Thacker tries to work over Hanson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hanson prevents a body shot from Thacker.
Hanson is looking for a takedown.
Thacker lands a left hand that snaps the head of Hanson backwards.
Hanson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Thacker pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Thacker lands an uppercut.
Rikkard Hanson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hanson blocks an uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alasdair Thacker showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hanson 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rikkard Hanson!
Rikkard Hanson gave a mention to Red Light Coffeeshop in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).