PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tan Zan (ranked 465 p4p, 1439 weight class) and Butch Thighpunch (ranked 77 p4p, 198 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Zan
vs
Thighpunch

172 cm
38
164
29 - 8 - 0

185 cm
40
180
21 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition
Altitude Clothing

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 29 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tan Zan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Butch Thighpunch!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zan lands a right hook to the body.
Thighpunch dips to his left and cracks Zan with an uppercut!
Zan misses with a lunging right hand
and Thighpunch counters with a nice uppercut.
Zan misses with a straight left.
Zan takes a swing at Thighpunch's ribcage but misses.
Tan Zan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zan lands with a good body shot.
Zan's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Thighpunch connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Zan scrambles back to his feet.
Thighpunch 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.
Thighpunch avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Thighpunch appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Zan throws a lazy uppercut
and Thighpunch counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Zan scores with a jab to the jaw.
Zan lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thighpunch takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Zan takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Zan throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Thighpunch counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Thighpunch misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thighpunch ducks under a wild hook from Zan.
Zan tries to clinch but Thighpunch is having none of it.
Thighpunch swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Thighpunch fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Zan looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
We've been told by Zan's head coaches at Alpha Brasil that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Thighpunch lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Zan smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Zan throws a hook but Thighpunch blocks it.
Thighpunch takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Thighpunch throws a sloppy body shot
and Zan counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Zan paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thighpunch looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Zan takes a jab right on the kisser.
Thighpunch throws a poor cross that misses
and Zan counters with a stiff right hand.
Thighpunch throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zan lands with an overhand left.
Zan rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Thighpunch connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Thighpunch keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Zan scores with a jab.
Zan moves out of range as Thighpunch strikes.
Thighpunch's jab looks to have found its range, popping Zan under the eye.

Zan drives through and clinches with Thighpunch against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Thighpunch's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Thighpunch blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Zan misses with a punch on the inside.
Zan lands a body punch in the clinch.

Thighpunch breaks the clinch.
Zan ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Zan throws a hook to the side of Thighpunch's head but Thighpunch sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Thighpunch jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zan misses with a wild body shot.
Thighpunch staying out of range there.
Thighpunch looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Zan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thighpunch bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Zan takes a swing at Thighpunch's ribcage but misses.
Zan listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Zan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thighpunch has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Thighpunch swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Thighpunch misses with a straight left.
Thighpunch keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thighpunch uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Zan.
Jab, jab by Zan - just one landing.
A big right from Thighpunch misses.
Thighpunch throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zan jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Thighpunch just misses with a punch to the body.
Zan throws a jab when Thighpunch was well out of range.
Zan 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.
Zan throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Thighpunch sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Zan looks to score with a jab to the body but Thighpunch is just out of range.
Zan looks to land a left hand but Thighpunch moved out of range nicely.
Thighpunch looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Zan throws a shot from downtown. Thighpunch moves away and avoids it.
Zan smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Zan misses with an uppercut.
Thighpunch looks like he wants to counter punch here.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thighpunch avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Zan rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Thighpunch counter with a right hand.
Zan connects with a body shot that sends Thighpunch's belly button to the back.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tan Zan will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Thighpunch walks into a straight right hand from Zan.
Zan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thighpunch.
Zan swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Zan cracks Thighpunch with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Thighpunch throws the left hand but Zan avoids the punch easily.
Thighpunch slips a jab from Zan.
Thighpunch throws out a counter right but Zan avoids it with no problem.
Thighpunch throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zan.
It looked like Zan wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Zan scores with a jab. Thighpunch acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Thighpunch throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Zan swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Tan Zan is winning the standup battle so far.
Zan throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Thighpunch counters with a straight right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thighpunch bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Zan misses with a left hand
and Thighpunch counters with a stiff right hand.
Thighpunch gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Zan.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thighpunch throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thighpunch throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zan connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Zan uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Thighpunch has time to react.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Zan here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Thighpunch lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zan circles away quickly and effectively.
Zan throws a poor cross that misses
and Thighpunch counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Zan throws a big shot that misses.
Thighpunch misses with an uppercut. Zan saw that one coming.
A little feinted left hand from Zan on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Zan throws an off balance right hand
and Thighpunch counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Thighpunch misses with a wild body shot.
Thighpunch uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zan.
Thighpunch throws an off balance right hand
and Zan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Zan throws a body punch but Thighpunch moves out of range.
Despite the aggression on Thighpunch's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Thighpunch uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zan.
Zan misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thighpunch is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Zan.
Zan needs to keep his hands up - Thighpunch had a free shot at his head there.
Zan bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Thighpunch's head backwards.
A big left from Zan misses.
Zan throws a shot from downtown. Thighpunch moves away and avoids it.
Thighpunch throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
The fighters circling - Thighpunch throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Thighpunch slips under a jab.
Zan missing with a left hand there. Thighpunch was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Thighpunch looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Thighpunch misses the shot to the body.
Zan misses the shot to the body.
Zan bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Thighpunch's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zan changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Zan throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Thighpunch on the side of the head.
Zan thows a left - swing and a miss!
Thighpunch now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Zan misses with a straight right.
Zan throws a big shot that misses.
Nice body punch from Zan.
Zan misses with a lunging right hand
and Thighpunch counters with a straight right hand.
Zan misses with a hook
and Thighpunch counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Zan swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Thighpunch counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Thighpunch has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Thighpunch's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Zan connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Thighpunch scrambles back to his feet.
Zan tries to clinch there but Thighpunch circles away.
Thighpunch looks to throw the jab but Zan is out of range.
Thighpunch keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zan fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
A slow jab from Thighpunch misses its intended target.
Nice body punch from Thighpunch.
Zan throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Thighpunch to counter with a crisp jab.
Zan ducks under a wild hook from Thighpunch.
Zan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thighpunch uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zan.
Zan wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Zan throws a body punch but Thighpunch moves out of range.
Thighpunch looks to throw the jab but Zan is out of range.
Thighpunch throws a lazy right hand but Zan sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Zan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thighpunch.
Thighpunch doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Zan swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Thighpunch connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Tan Zan will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Thighpunch is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Thighpunch misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zan.
A jab from Zan misses.
A nice side step and Thighpunch releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Zan throws an off balance right hand
and Thighpunch makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Zan throws a shot from downtown. Thighpunch moves away and avoids it.
Zan scores with a jab. Thighpunch acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Zan throws a lazy uppercut
and Thighpunch counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Nice defenses there by Zan.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Zan misses with a looping right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thighpunch jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Thighpunch swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Zan counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A jab from Zan misses.
Zan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Zan swings for the body but Thighpunch moves out of range.
Zan lands a head shot.
Zan takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Nice jab there from Zan.
Thighpunch slips a jab from Zan.
Zan misses with an uppercut.
Zan with a nice cross.
Zan displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Thighpunch throws out the jab.
Thighpunch throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zan pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Thighpunch appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Jab from Thighpunch.
Zan misses the body punch
and Thighpunch counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thighpunch fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zan manages to avoid it.
Thighpunch moves out of range as Zan strikes.
Thighpunch is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Zan with a body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zan misses with a body shot.
Zan throws an off balance right hand
enabling Thighpunch to counter with a crisp jab.
Thighpunch slips a straight right by Zan.
Zan feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Thighpunchs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Zan's jab looks to have found its range, popping Thighpunch under the eye.
Zan throws a lazy right hand but Thighpunch sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Zan takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Zan moves out of range of the strikes.
Zan scores with a shot to the body.
Thighpunch throws a looping overhand right but Zan ducks down to avoid it.
Zan looks to land a right hand but Thighpunch moved out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zan throws a jab but it's blocked by Thighpunch.
Thighpunch slips under a jab from Zan.

Zan gets a clinch.
Thighpunch doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Zan lands a left hand that snaps the head of Thighpunch backwards.
Still in the clinch, Thighpunch scores with a nice short uppercut.
Zan tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Tan Zan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Zan misses with a short punch on the inside.
Thighpunch working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Thighpunch as the two fighters clinch.
Thighpunch working aggressively here.
Thighpunch misses with a hook to the ribs.
Thighpunch lands a nice shot to the body.
Zan lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Zan creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Zan lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Thighpunch or not.
Zan lands a right hand that snaps the head of Thighpunch backwards.
Butch Thighpunch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thighpunch throws a punch but it's blocked by Zan.
Thighpunch misses with a short punch on the inside.
Thighpunch lands a hook to the side of the head.
Zan lands with a short shot to the head.
Zan lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Zan tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thighpunch's elbow.
Zan cracks Thighpunch with a nice body shot.
Zan scores with a nice hook to the head.

Thighpunch is rocked!
Thighpunch throws a head punch that misses.
Thighpunch is still on wobbly legs! Can Zan finish him?
A quick uppercut on the inside from Zan.
Thighpunch misses with a punch to the body.
Thighpunch blocking some punches.
Zan scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Thighpunch blocks an uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tan Zan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Zan has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tan Zan!
A victorious Tan Zan thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.