PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Thom Tharrier (ranked 1566 p4p, 192 weight class) and Luke Venderag (ranked 22290 p4p, 501 weight class). Thom Tharrier has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Tharrier
vs
Venderag

170 cm
20
270 lbs
8 - 13 - 0

181 cm
23
204 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Excellent MT
Granite chin

Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

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 8 - 13 - 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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Luke Venderag!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Seu Braga and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Venderag takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Tharrier has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Crapollas Gym in the buildup to the fight.
Venderag takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

It looks like Luke Venderag has been cut.
Venderag keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tharrier.
Tharrier throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A countering left hand to the body from Venderag misses.
Venderag uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tharrier.
Tharrier throws a body punch but Venderag moves out of range.
Venderag avoids the body shot from Tharrier.
Tharrier is looking to wear down Venderag with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Tharrier misses with a low kick.
Venderag looks to land a right hand but Tharrier moved out of range.
We've been informed that Venderag has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
A clash of legs there as Venderag blocks the low kick.
Tharrier scoring well with a low kick there.
Tharrier throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Venderag ducks under a wild hook from Tharrier.
Venderag throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tharrier throws a leg kick but Venderag sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Tharrier throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Tharrier takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Thom Tharrier seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Venderag's corner calls for a 1-2. Venderag obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

It looks like Thom Tharrier has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Tharrier lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Venderag has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Venderag and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Tharrier tries a low kick but Venderag avoids it.
Nice body punch from Venderag.
A jab from Tharrier does it's job there.
Tharrier throws a shot from downtown. Venderag moves away and avoids it.
Tharrier misses with a hook

and Venderag counters by moving into the clinch.
Venderag with a knee to the head.
Tharrier tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Venderag crunches a lovely knee into Tharrier's ribcage.
Tharrier is breathing heavily.
Knees to the body from Venderag.
Venderag unloads a knee to the mid-section. Tharrier lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Venderag lands a right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Venderag working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Venderag obliges.
Venderag is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Venderag lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Tharrier.
A short uppercut from Venderag.
Venderag is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Venderag lands a good knee to the midsection. Tharrier won't want to take too many of those.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Venderag.
Venderag pushes Tharrier back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Venderag with a knee to the head.
Venderag connects with a nasty looking knee right to Tharrier's face.
Venderag using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Venderag lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Tharrier backwards.
A right handed body shot lands from Venderag.
Venderag lands a knee to the body.
Venderag with a knee to the head.
Venderag lands a hook to the side of the head.
Venderag lands with a right to the head.
Venderag lands a good knee to the midsection. Tharrier won't want to take too many of those.
Venderag landing knees to the body.
Venderag lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Venderag lands a knee to the head.
Venderag lands a left hand that snaps the head of Tharrier backwards.
Venderag scores with a shoulder strike.
Venderag scores a nice knee to the body.
A short right from Venderag on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Venderag dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action!

Tharrier walks into a stiff left hand from Venderag.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Tharrier crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Venderag - the referee stops the clock and Tharrier gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Venderag. Tharrier manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
A big right from Tharrier misses.
Venderag steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Tharrier.
Venderag throws a head kick that misses.
Tharrier tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Venderag was well out of range. Poor timing from Tharrier.
Venderag moves away from the strike by Tharrier.
Venderag steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tharrier.
Venderag has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tharrier fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Venderag manages to avoid it.
Venderag clobbers Tharrier with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Tharrier throws a body kick that misses.
Tharrier throws a big shot that misses.
A little jabbing left from Venderag on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Venderag connects with a body shot.
Tharrier thows a leg kick but Venderag checks it
and Venderag counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Venderag throws a sloppy head kick and Tharrier moves out of range easily.

Venderag fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Tharrier, pushing him back against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Venderag digs a right hand into Tharrier's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Tharrier's gas tank.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Venderag.
Venderag pushes Tharrier back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Venderag scores a nice knee to the body.
Tharrier takes a knee to the side of the body.
Venderag landing knees to the head.
Venderag using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Venderag with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Knees to the body from Venderag.
Venderag scores with a knee to the head.
Venderag landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Venderag lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Venderag lands with a short shot to the head.
Venderag utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Venderag scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Knees in the clinch landing for Venderag.
Venderag lands a good knee to the midsection. Tharrier won't want to take too many of those.
Venderag landing knees to the body.
Good body shot from Venderag.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Venderag lands a good knee to the midsection. Tharrier won't want to take too many of those.
Venderag lands a nice knee to the body.
Venderag unloads a knee to the mid-section. Tharrier lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Venderag scores with a hook to the body.
Venderag lands a body shot in the clinch.
Venderag with a knee to the head.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Venderag. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Venderag working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Venderag.
Venderag lands a knee to the head.
Venderag lands a body shot.
Venderag crunches a lovely knee into Tharrier's ribcage.
Venderag throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Tharriers head.
Tharrier wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Venderag lands with a right to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Venderag with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Tharrier working hard to break the clinch.
Venderag using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Venderag lands a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Venderag showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Venderag lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Thom Tharrier has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Venderag takes the fight into the clinch.
Venderag lands a body shot.
Venderag is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Tharrier is defending well for now.
Luke Venderag seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Venderag gets through Tharrier's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Venderag lands a left hand.
Venderag lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Tharrier breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thom Tharrier is winning the standup battle so far.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Venderag, right into the meat.
Tharrier misses the body punch
and Venderag counters with a stiff right hand.
Tharrier fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Venderag manages to avoid it.
Venderag throws a series of punches but Tharrier moves out of range.
Venderag has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Venderag is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tharrier throws a leg kick but Venderag sees it coming and moves out of range.
Tharrier throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Venderag wants to counter the offense by Tharrier and move into the clinch position.
Tharrier cracks the inside of Venderag's front leg.
Luke Venderag is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tharrier misses with a hook.
Venderag lands with an uppercut that bounces Tharrier off the cage and back into range.
Tharrier is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Venderag's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Venderag moves away from the strike by Tharrier.
Tharrier rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Venderag counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Venderag landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Tharrier misses with some punches.
Knees to the body from Venderag.
Tharrier can't find room to land a body shot as Venderag controls the action.
Tharrier fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tharrier wants to break free but Venderag has control.
Venderag lands a shot to the body.
Tharrier can't find room to land a body shot as Venderag controls the action.
Venderag lands a knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Venderag lands a nice knee to the body.
Tharrier misses with a hook to the ribs.
Tharrier wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Venderag works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Venderag has Tharrier pressed against the cage, preventing Tharrier from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Tharrier doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Venderag digs a right hand into Tharrier's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Tharrier's gas tank.
A head punch on the inside from Tharrier fails to land.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tharrier is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Venderag landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Venderag lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Venderag with a knee to the head.
Tharrier misses with the head strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luke Venderag comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Venderag has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 26:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 26:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luke Venderag!
A very excited looking Luke Venderag made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.