PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alasdair Thacker (ranked 543 p4p, 73 weight class) and Rudi Dassler (ranked 988 p4p, 147 weight class). 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.

Thacker
vs
Dassler

175 cm
34
197 lbs
19 - 13 - 0

200 cm
32
215 lbs
20 - 17 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

IniTech Nutrition

Urban Fighter
Mockstar Energy Drinks 160Q

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Alasdair Thacker!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 17 - 0, fighting out of London, Rudi Dassler!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thacker throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Thacker throws an off balance right hand
letting Dassler counter with a right hand.
Thacker fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Thacker looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Dassler shoots in for a double leg but Thacker sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Dassler has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Dassler ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Dassler drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Thacker defends it well.
Thacker turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Thacker rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Dassler counters with a single leg into guard. Thacker didn't expect that.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Thacker is on top in guard.

Thacker with a nice head shot there.

Dassler had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Thacker defends it easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Dassler throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Thacker content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thacker accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Dassler isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Thacker stacks Dassler on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Thacker!
Dassler is looking for a sweep.
Thacker scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Dassler to see if he's OK.
Thacker lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Dassler down.

It looks like Rudi Dassler has been cut.
Thacker wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dassler keeps working.
Thacker scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Dassler to see if he's OK.
Thacker in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Dassler tries to bench press Thacker off him but Thacker keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thacker misses with the ground and pound.
Thacker landing strikes.
Thacker is looking to take a break and control but Dassler is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Dassler throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
The ground and pound from Thacker seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Thacker remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Dassler tries to bench press Thacker off him but Thacker keeps the position.
Thacker moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Dassler tries to improve position but can't.
Dassler on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Dassler tries to buck Thacker off but Thacker is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dassler gets back to half guard.

Dassler looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Thacker lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Thacker trying to control the action but Dassler is working from the bottom.
Dassler wants to improve his position but Thacker is controlling well.
Thacker wants to pass the guard but Dassler is defending well.
Dassler wants to improve his position but Thacker is controlling well.
Dassler gets back to full guard.

Dassler working for a triangle but Thacker defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thacker working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Dassler keeping moving, preventing Thacker from controlling successfully.

Dassler had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Thacker defends it easily.
Dassler utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Thacker wants to control from the top but Dassler keeps moving.

Dassler is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Thacker is aware though and is defending well.

Dassler escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Thacker gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Dassler looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Dassler keeping moving, preventing Thacker from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alasdair Thacker dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rudi Dassler's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Dassler bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A big right from Thacker misses.
Thacker is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Dassler's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Dassler shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Thacker sprawls well. Thacker wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Dassler gets slowly back to his feet.
Thacker stuns Dassler with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
An inside leg kick from Thacker misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thacker lands the left hand.

That has opened up Rudi Dassler's cut even more.
Dassler tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A swing and a miss from Thacker.
Thacker throws a shot from downtown. Dassler moves away and avoids it.
Dassler with the counter takedown but Thacker avoids it easily.
Thacker misses with a double jab.
Dassler drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Thacker defends it well.
Alasdair Thacker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thacker connects with a crisp jab.
Thacker throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Thacker swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Dassler shoots in but no luck this time.
Dassler takes a jab right on the kisser.
Thacker throws a series of punches but Dassler avoids them all with ease.
Dassler gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Thacker to counter with a crisp jab.
Alasdair Thacker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rudi Dassler.
Nice uppercut lands for Thacker. That snapped Dassler's head back.
Dassler steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Thacker.
Thacker throws a sloppy head kick

and Dassler counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Dassler is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Thacker as he works his way to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dassler with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dassler tries to free his leg and advance position but Thacker is retaining full guard.
Dassler passes into half guard.

Dassler seems to be working for a kimura but Thacker defends the submission attempt.

Dassler is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Rudi Dassler has got the better of the ground game so far.

Dassler is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Thacker makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Thacker.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thacker not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Dassler forces his way into half guard.
Thacker is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Thacker is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dassler can do to turn this around?

Dassler 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 Dassler.

Dassler seems to be looking for submissions.

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.
Thacker tries to roll over but Dassler keeps him under control.
Thacker slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Dassler looking to pass the guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

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

Dassler has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Thacker can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alasdair Thacker dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rudi Dassler's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Thacker throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Dassler on the side of the head.
Thacker pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Dassler feints the counter takedown.
Thacker throws the left hand but Dassler avoids the punch easily.
And Dassler tries to counter it with a takedown but Thacker pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Thacker connects with a leg kick. Dassler looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Dassler closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Dassler blocks a jab.
Dassler tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thacker looks to land a body kick but Dassler moved away.
Thacker scores with a sloppy right hand. Dassler should have avoided that one.
Thacker throws a hook but Dassler blocks it.
Thacker misses with a combination

and Dassler counters with a takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thacker gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Thacker is looking for a sweep. Dassler is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Dassler seems to be working for a kimura but Thacker defends the submission attempt.
Thacker manages to get to full guard.
Thacker is trying to keep Dassler in close.
Dassler throwing strikes from guard but Thacker blocks nicely.
Dassler throws an elbow that misses. Thacker uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Dassler's guard. Nice move by Thacker!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thacker is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Dassler looking to hit a scissor sweep but Thacker is one step ahead there.
Thacker postures up in Dassler's guard and throws a big left but Dassler blocks it.

Dassler working for a triangle but Thacker defends it easily.
Thacker works a leg free and moves into half guard.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Thacker here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Dassler is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Thacker scores with a couple of nice shots.
Thacker lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Dassler looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thacker wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dassler keeps working.
Thacker has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Dassler is looking to improve his position but Thacker isn't that keen on the idea.
Dassler gets back to half guard.
Thacker trying to control from half guard but Dassler is working away.

Dassler is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Thacker pulls his head out easily.
Dassler gets back to full guard.
Thacker stopping the sweep attempt from Dassler.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thacker scoring with punches to the head and body.
Thacker trying to control but Dassler is working from the bottom.
Dassler avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Dassler looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dassler is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Dassler keeping full guard, as Thacker tries to pass.
Thacker trying to control but Dassler is working from the bottom.
Thacker distracts Dassler with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thacker connects with a couple of short punches.

Dassler is looking for a triangle but Thacker pushes his legs off easily.

Dassler had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Thacker defends it easily.
Dassler takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Dassler is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Thacker defends well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alasdair Thacker clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Rudi Dassler's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Dassler takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Thacker scores with a jab to the body.
Dassler ducks under a wild hook from Thacker.
Thacker throws a hook but Dassler blocks it.
Dassler tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Thacker throws a hook to the side of Dassler's head but Dassler sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Thacker misses with a looping left.
And Dassler tries to counter it with a takedown but Thacker pushes his down on his head and steps out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thacker misses with an uppercut. Dassler saw that one coming.
And Dassler tries to counter it with a takedown but Thacker pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Dassler ducks under a wild hook from Thacker.
Dassler tries to counter by closing the distance.
Thacker is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Dassler.

Dassler bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thacker regains half guard.

Dassler has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Thacker defend it? Dassler steps over the head and cranks it - Thacker is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Dassler!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:10 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Rudi Dassler!
Rudi Dassler is the new light heavyweight champion!
After the big win, Rudi Dassler made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Urban Fighter and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.