PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Juho Heikkinen (ranked 2251 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jushin Thunder (ranked 19335 p4p, 0 weight class). Jushin Thunder has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Juho Heikkinen's chin.

Heikkinen
vs
Thunder

188 cm
27
200 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

170 cm
28
190 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Juho Heikkinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jushin Thunder!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Bruno Lombardi and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thunder will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A bone on bone clash there as Thunder blocks the leg kick.
Thunder takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Thunder feints and then cracks Heikkinen's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Heikkinen down.
Thunder fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A little feinted left hand from Heikkinen on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Heikkinen misses with a wild body shot.
Thunder swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Thunder throws a body punch but Heikkinen moves out of range.
Heikkinen looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Heikkinen misses with a head kick.
Thunder is looking for the big counter here.
Thunder throws out a loose jab but Heikkinen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Thunder scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunder throws an overhand right that lands on Heikkinen's shoulder, as Heikkinen tries to avoid the shot.
It looked like Heikkinen wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
A slapping leg kick lands for Heikkinen.
Heikkinen doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Thunder counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Thunder loads up on a big right hand but Heikkinen slips the punch.
The fighters circling - Thunder throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Thunder fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Heikkinen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Thunder moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Thunder thuds a left hand into Heikkinen's body.

Heikkinen darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Heikkinen is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Thunder blocking the ground and pound attempt from Heikkinen.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Heikkinen stalling.
Thunder wants to improve his position but Heikkinen is controlling well.
Thunder is controlling Heikkinen's position as best he can from this difficult position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heikkinen slips a nice elbow through Thunder's hands, connecting with Thunder's forehead.
Heikkinen seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Heikkinen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Thunder is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Thunder moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Heikkinen trying to control but Thunder is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Heikkinen is standing up over Thunder. Thunder looks to escape but Heikkinen dives into side control.
Heikkinen trying to control the action but Thunder is working from the bottom.
Thunder tries to improve position but can't.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Heikkinen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thunder keeps working.
Heikkinen working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jushin Thunder will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Thunder scores with a decent looking hook.
Thunder swinging wildly here.
Heikkinen cracks Thunder with a good jab.
A big right from Heikkinen misses.
Jushin Thunder seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Heikkinen lands with a cross.

It looks like Jushin Thunder has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thunder scoring well with a low kick there.
Thunder fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Thunder waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Heikkinen.
Heikkinen staying out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heikkinen takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Thunder takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Heikkinen missing with a left hand there. Thunder was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Good leg kick by Thunder there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Thunder gets caught napping as Heikkinen dives in and scores a takedown. Thunder manages to retain guard.
Heikkinen looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Heikkinen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Heikkinen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Heikkinen slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Thunder pulls Heikkinen in close to prevent any damage.
Heikkinen prevents Thunder from getting back to his feet.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Thunder has control of Heikkinen's left arm, preventing Heikkinen from doing any damage.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thunder avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Thunder looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Thunder lands with a thumping leg kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Heikkinen.
Heikkinen misses with a takedown
and Heikkinen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Thunder misses with a low kick.
Heikkinen is looking to counter the offense by Thunder and move into the clinch.
Thunder pulls out of a head kick attempt.
An attempted straight right counter from Heikkinen misses the target.
Heikkinen misses with the combination.
Jushin Thunder is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Heikkinen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Thunder tries a quick counter leg kick but Heikkinen is wise to it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thunder listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Heikkinen just misses with a punch to the body.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Thunder! But no joy.
Heikkinen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Thunder.
Thunder thumps Heikkinen with a low kick.
Heikkinen throws a poor cross that misses
and Thunder counters with a nice body shot.
Heikkinen throws a hook to the side of Thunder's head but Thunder sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Thunder looks like he wants to counter punch here.
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!
Thunder lands with a kick to the ribs.
Juho Heikkinen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thunder throws a shot to the body.
Heikkinen lands a head shot.
Heikkinen looks to throw the jab but Thunder is out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jushin Thunder will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Jushin Thunder'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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Heikkinen looks to land a left hand but Thunder moved out of range nicely.
A little jabbing left from Thunder on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Thunder dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Heikkinen lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Heikkinen looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Thunder misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Heikkinen on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A shot to the liver by Thunder. Beautiful body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thunder scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Heikkinen misses with a looping left.
Sloppy strikes from Heikkinen. Those never looked like landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heikkinen throws a lazy right hand but Thunder sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A little jabbing left from Thunder on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Heikkinen moves out of range of the strikes.
Heikkinen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A head kick misses from Thunder.
Thunder has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Heikkinen wants to clinch but Thunder slips to the side
and Thunder counters with a straight right hand.
Thunder throws the kick towards the body but Heikkinen avoids it.
Heikkinen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Heikkinen throws a hook but Thunder avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thunder keeps the fight on the outside.
Some bone on bone action there as Thunder checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Thunder connects with a crisp jab.
Heikkinen throws a nice outside leg kick.
Heikkinen misses with a straight left.
Thunder dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Heikkinen moves away from the strike by Thunder.
Heikkinen takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Thunder throws a body punch but Heikkinen moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heikkinen with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A swing and a miss from Heikkinen.
Heikkinen connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Thunder digs a good hook to Heikkinen's body.
Thunder throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Thunder drops Heikkinen with a big left hand! Heikkinen is injured, injured bad! Thunder jumps in and finished him with strikes! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jushin Thunder!