PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Robert Sullivan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thunder Horse (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sullivan
vs
Horse

215 cm
33
282 lbs
20 - 9 - 0

205 cm
35
335 lbs
11 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Anarchy Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Robert Sullivan!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Thunder Horse!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Sergei Dronov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Horse shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Sullivan manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Sullivan is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Horse presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Sullivan has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Horse prevents a body shot from Sullivan.

Horse breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sullivan wants to clinch up but Horse keeps it at a distance.
Sullivan moves in looking to clinch but Horse pushes him off.
Sullivan wants to clinch up but Horse keeps it at a distance.
Horse is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Horse, right into the meat.
Donk. Horse catches Sullivan right on the button with a cross.
Horse fails with the takedown.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Sullivan clinches with his opponent.
Horse has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sullivan is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Horse fails to pull guard.
Robert Sullivan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thunder Horse.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sullivan.
Horse is looking for a takedown.
Sullivan gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Horse.
Sullivan lands with a right to the head.
Sullivan landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Sullivan tries a knee to the head but Horse blocks it.
Sullivan throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Horses head.
Sullivan pushes Horse back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sullivan doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Horse takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Thunder Horse has been cut.
Horse tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sullivan just stands there and leans against the cage.
Horse looks winded!
Horse has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Sullivan after a bit of a struggle.
Sullivan throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Horse blocks it with crossed arms.
Horse wants a takedown.
Sullivan with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sullivan throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sullivan lands a knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Sullivan tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A right hand to the body from Sullivan.
Sullivan unloads a knee to the mid-section. Horse lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Sullivan throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Horse blocks it with crossed arms.
Horse is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Sullivan is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Sullivan crunches a lovely knee into Horse's ribcage.
Sullivan scores with a shot to the side of Horse's head.
Sullivan lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Sullivan can't find room to land a body shot as Horse controls the action.
Horse fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Sullivan landing knees to the head.
Sullivan misses with a knee strike.
Horse is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Sullivan gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Sullivan is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Sullivan scores with a shoulder strike.
Sullivan lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan tries a body shot but Horse blocks it.
Sullivan utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Sullivan unloads a knee to the mid-section. Horse lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A shot in the inside from Sullivan.
Sullivan tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sullivan using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Horse has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sullivan scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Sullivan prevents the takedown attempt.
Sullivan lands with a light punch inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Horse.
Horse is trying to pull guard but Sullivan turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Sullivan connects with a nasty looking knee right to Horse's face.
Sullivan has a couple of punches blocked by Horse.
Sullivan lands with a right to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sullivan landing knees to the head.
Sullivan lands a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Horse has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Horse takes a knee right on the jaw!
Sullivan tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Sullivan creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Horse drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sullivan throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sullivan tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Horse misses with some punches.
Horse has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Sullivan tries to land a knee to the head but Horse blocks with his arms.
Horse tries to break free but Sullivan pushes him back against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Horse drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sullivan pulls his leg out and moves away.
Sullivan fails with an attempt to clinch.
Horse drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Sullivan defends it well.
Horse swats away the attempt to clinch by Sullivan.
Horse is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Sullivan dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Thunder Horse's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Sullivan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Horse throws out a leg kick but Sullivan moves out of range and Horse only half commits.
Horse misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sullivan is looking to clinch.
Horse swats away the attempt to clinch by Sullivan.
Horse with the counter takedown but Sullivan avoids it easily.
Sullivan wants to clinch up but Horse keeps it at a distance.
Horse keeps the fight on the outside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sullivan tries to close the distance and clinch but Horse swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sullivan is looking to clinch.
Horse goes for a double leg but Sullivan avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Sullivan continues to drive forward.
Sullivan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Robert Sullivan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sullivan is looking to clinch.
Horse changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Sullivan wants to clinch

and Horse counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Horse.
Sullivan wants to get back to his feet but Horse is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sullivan is looking to stand back up but Horse counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Sullivan.
Sullivan is trying to stand up here but Horse is controlling him well.
Sullivan is staying active underneath Horse, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Horse thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sullivan's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan has hold of Horse's hands but Horse slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Horse working over Sullivan with some ground and pound. Sullivan looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Sullivan tries to kick Horse off but Horse keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Horse connects with a nice short shot to Sullivan's temple.
Horse trying to control the pace.
Horse stops Sullivan from getting back to his feet.

Sullivan makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
The fight stays on the outside here - Sullivan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Sullivan moves into the clinch successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Sullivan throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Horse blocks it with crossed arms.
Horse blocks a body shot from Sullivan.
Horse tries for a takedown. No joy.
Horse is breathing heavily.
Sullivan tries to land a knee to the head but Horse blocks with his arms.
Horse jumps guard but Sullivan turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Robert Sullivan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thunder Horse.
Still in the clinch, Sullivan scores with a nice short uppercut.
Sullivan misses with a knee to the head.
Sullivan tries a knee to the head but Horse blocks it.
Sullivan lands a nice shot to the body.
Sullivan lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Sullivan digs a right hand underneath Horse's ribcage. Horse let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Sullivan lands a body shot.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Sullivan here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Horse jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sullivan walks away with a smile on his face. Horse gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Sullivan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Horse swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Horse follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan doesn't manage to clinch there - Horse circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sullivan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Horse paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Sullivan tries to clinch up.
Sullivan throws a sloppy head kick and Horse moves out of range easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sullivan avoids the body shot from Horse.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sullivan tries to clinch but Horse moves out of range.
Horse drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Sullivan defends it well.
Sullivan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Horse can do to turn this around?
Sullivan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sullivan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Horse paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Robert Sullivan will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Thunder Horse's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sullivan tries to clinch but Horse moves out of range.

Sullivan pushes Horse up against the cage in a clinch.
Sullivan prevents the takedown attempt.
Horse prevents a body shot from Sullivan.
Horse drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sullivan pulls his leg out and moves away.
Sullivan is looking to clinch.
Horse only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Sullivan moves in looking to clinch but Horse pushes him off.
Robert Sullivan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sullivan tries to clinch there but Horse circles away.
Horse swats away the attempt to clinch by Sullivan.
Horse tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sullivan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sullivan fails with an attempt to clinch.
Horse appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Horse has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Sullivan is landing a low percentage of strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sullivan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sullivan tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Horse counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Sullivan is looking to stand up but Horse isn't so interested in that idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Horse trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Horse has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sullivan is looking to stand up but Horse isn't so interested in that idea.
Horse trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horse landing some decent shots from guard.
Sullivan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Horse working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Sullivan pushes Horse off and scrambles back to his feet.
Sullivan tries to close the distance and clinch but Horse swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Horse fails with the takedown
and Sullivan counters with a one-two to the body.
Robert Sullivan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thunder Horse.
Horse takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Horse shoots in looking for a takedown but Sullivan manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Horse's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Sullivan forces Horse back against the cage and clinches.
Sullivan looking to throw knees to the head but Horse is blocking nicely.
Horse is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horse wants a takedown.
Sullivan tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Horse managing to block the knees to the body from Sullivan.
Sullivan doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Horse tries for a takedown. No joy.
Horse fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Sullivan looking to throw knees to the head but Horse is blocking nicely.
Sullivan tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Horse has picked Sullivan up - he's going for a ride! Horse dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Sullivan is trying to stand up here but Horse is controlling him well.
Horse wants to free his trapped foot but Sullivan is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Horse stops Sullivan from getting back to his feet.
Horse seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan is trying to stand back up but Horse is controlling him
Sullivan is staying active underneath Horse, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Sullivan is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Horse scores with a couple of nice shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sullivan wants to get back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Horse throws a head kick that misses.
Sullivan cracks the inside of Horse's front leg.
Sullivan wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Robert Sullivan did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The cut man is working on Thunder Horse's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sullivan tries to close the distance and clinch but Horse swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Horse drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Thunder Horse has got the better of the ground game so far.
Horse looking to control but instead Sullivan has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Sullivan is looking to escape.
Horse scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horse slips a nice elbow through Sullivan's hands, connecting with Sullivan's forehead.
Sullivan pushes Horse off looking to stand but Horse dives back in and keeps control.

Sullivan has one foot on Horse's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horse scores with a shot to the body.
Horse keeps the fight on the outside.
Sullivan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
A swing and a miss from Sullivan.
Sullivan wants to clinch up but Horse keeps it at a distance.
Horse connects with a leg kick. Sullivan looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Sullivan moves in looking to clinch but Horse pushes him off.

Sullivan instigates a clinch.
Horse tries to score a body lock takedown but Sullivan shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Horse successfully pulls guard.

Horse has an active guard here but Sullivan has managed to pass into half guard.
Horse trying to hold on to Sullivan's head to control him but Sullivan postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sullivan gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Sullivan tries to clinch there but Horse circles away.
Robert Sullivan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sullivan is looking to clinch but Horse is avoiding it.
Sullivan wants to clinch.
Sullivan tries to clinch but Horse is having none of it.
Horse swats away the attempt to clinch by Sullivan.
Sullivan wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan tries to clinch up.
Horse scores with a leg kick.
Sullivan tries to close the distance and clinch but Horse swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Horse fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Horse swats away the attempt to clinch by Sullivan.
Sullivan tries to clinch there but Horse circles away.
Horse keeps the fight on the outside.
Sullivan doesn't manage to clinch there - Horse circles away.
Horse drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Sullivan defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Horse feints the counter takedown.
Sullivan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Horse moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Horse appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Horse swats away the attempt to clinch by Sullivan.
Sullivan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Horse paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sullivan fails with an attempt to clinch.
Horse feints the counter takedown.
Sullivan tries to clinch up but Horse circles away and keeps his distance.
Horse swats away the attempt to clinch by Sullivan.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sullivan doesn't manage to clinch there - Horse circles away.
Horse scores with a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thunder Horse dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Thunder Horse's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Horse swats away the attempt to clinch by Sullivan.
Sullivan darts in trying to clinch

and Horse counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Sullivan!
Horse throws an elbow but Sullivan slips to the side and avoids it well.
Horse cracks Sullivan with a big right hand but Sullivan just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Sullivan is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Sullivan takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horse trying to control the position but Sullivan is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Horse working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Horse throwing shots but missing, from side control.
The ground and pound from Horse seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Sullivan pushes Horse away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Horse gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Horse is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Sullivan is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Sullivan wants to get back to his feet but Horse drags him back down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Check out the look on Horse's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Sullivan takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Horse connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Sullivan some visible discomfort.
Horse cracks Sullivan with a big right hand but Sullivan just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Horse prevents Sullivan from escaping the position.
Horse working the ground and pound.
Horse trying to control the position but Sullivan is working away.
Horse throwing strikes but Sullivan manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Horse is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Sullivan off and has taken his back!
Good control from Horse.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan is trying to get back to his feet but Horse has full control of the position and if anything, Sullivan has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Horse cracks Sullivan with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Sullivan from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Horse scores with strikes from the back.

Sullivan is rocked!
Sullivan is trying to get back to his feet but Horse has full control of the position and if anything, Sullivan has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Oh Sullivan is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Horse lands with a hammerfist to the side of Sullivan's head.
Robert Sullivan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Horse is raining down hard shots and and Sullivan has had enough - he's tapped out due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:45 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Thunder Horse!
Thunder Horse is the new super heavyweight champion!
After winning the bout, Thunder Horse thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.