PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thom Tharrier (ranked 1164 p4p, 1415 weight class) and Spinning Fire (ranked 143 p4p, 173 weight class). The key to victory for Thom Tharrier has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Tharrier
vs
Fire

170 cm
24
270
12 - 18 - 0

209 cm
22
290
8 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
World class MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Vegan Gains

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 12 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thom Tharrier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Spinning Fire!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big left from Tharrier misses.
Tharrier misses with a left hand

and Fire counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Fire.
Tharrier wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Fire manages to pass to side control.
Fire looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Tharrier with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Fire controlling the pace.
Tharrier tries to kick Fire off in order to stand up. Fire Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Tharrier is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Fire asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Fire lands a few punches from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tharrier is trying to buck Fire off.
Fire lands a nice forearm strike.
Fire is working Tharrier over with some ground and pound from side control.
Tharrier on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Tharrier tries to get out of the position.
Tharrier wants to get back to his feet but Fire drags him back down.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fire grinds an elbow into Tharrier's temple.
Tharrier is working to avoid the ground and pound but Fire connects with a decent elbow.
Fire is working Tharrier over with some ground and pound from side control.
Fire has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Fire working the body and head with strikes.
Tharrier knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Fire on the ground.
Tharrier takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Fire working the head with strikes.
Tharrier is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Fire has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Fire working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Fire scoring with punches from side control.
Fire looks up at the clock and then as Tharrier takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Fire smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Tharrier pushes Fire away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Fire gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Tharrier taking a bit of punishment here - Fire scoring with strikes.
Fire lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Tharrier down.
Tharrier is letting Fire control him for a moment.
Tharrier wants to get back to his feet but Fire drags him back down.
Fire controls the position.
We've been hearing good reports from Tharrier's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fire lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Fire prevents Tharrier from escaping the position.
Tharrier is working to avoid the ground and pound but Fire connects with a decent elbow.
Tharrier is trying to escape the position but Fire is controlling the position.
Fire cracks Tharrier with an elbow. That is naaassty.
You can see the frustration on Tharrier's face as Fire controls the position.
Fire lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Tharrier down.
Tharrier is trying to get back to his feet.
Fire in side control, just content to control the action for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fire working the ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fire in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tharrier is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Tharrier being controlled for a moment.
Fire lands some shots froms side control.
Fire taking a breather here.
Fire lands a nice forearm strike.
Tharrier is trying to get back to his feet.

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.
Fire working the ground and pound from side control.
Tharrier takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Fire lands some shots froms side control.
A lull in the action here.
It looks like Fire might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Fire's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tharrier tries to escape but Fire is in control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Spinning Fire dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Tharrier misses with a body punch

so Fire counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Fire seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Fire has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Fire passes into half guard.
Tharrier is trying to stand.
Fire seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Tharrier is trying to stand back up but Fire is controlling him
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fire scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Fire performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Tharrier pushes Fire off looking to stand but Fire dives back in and keeps control.
Fire takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fire landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Nice strikes from Fire there.
Fire looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Tharrier with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Fire perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Tharrier on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Tharrier is trying to stand.
Tharrier is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Fire scores with a couple of nice shots.
Fire passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Tharrier!
Fire has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Tharrier's face.
Fire controlling the pace for now.
More stalling from Fire.
Fire cracks Tharrier with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Tharrier squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Fire lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

It looks like Thom Tharrier has been cut.
Fire is landing with some decent strikes but Tharrier is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Tharrier is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fire looking to finish here with some ground and pound. He lands one big shot that has Tharrier covering up... and two more big strikes land, forcing the referee to step in and put and end to proceedings! This fight is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:21 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Spinning Fire!
An out of breath Spinning Fire thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.