PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Black Mamba (ranked 1442 p4p, 2379 weight class) and Thorvald Espensen (ranked 189 p4p, 296 weight class). Thorvald Espensen acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Mamba
vs
Espensen

190 cm
25
201
9 - 6 - 0

177 cm
26
185
6 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Core Combat
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Black Mamba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thorvald Espensen!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Phil Schofield and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mamba doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Mamba looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Espensen connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Espensen tries to move into range but Mamba moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Espensen scores with a jab.
Espensen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mamba was well out of range. Poor timing from Espensen.
Mamba walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Espensen checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Mamba tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Espensen, as that shot connected.
Mamba takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Espensen fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Mamba.
Espensen misses with a hook. Mamba ducked under it nicely.
Espensen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
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!
Espensen moves out of range of the strikes.
A good leg kick by Espensen.

Espensen clinches.

Mamba breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Espensen punishes Mamba's body with a nice straight punch.
Espensen lands a jab to the head.
Espensen throws a shot from downtown. Mamba moves away and avoids it.
Mamba avoids the body shot from Espensen.
Espensen with a nice calf kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mamba. Espensen does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mamba waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Espensen.
A leg kick checked by Espensen.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Mamba throws a hook to the side of Espensen's head but Espensen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Espensen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mamba.
Mamba swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Mamba throws a looping overhand right but Espensen ducks down to avoid it.
Mamba loads up on a big right hand but Espensen slips the punch.
Mamba throws a series of punches but Espensen moves out of range.
Nice defenses there by Espensen.
Espensen throws out a counter right but Mamba avoids it with no problem.
Espensen throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Espensen's corner calls for a 1-2. Espensen obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
A big right from Espensen misses.
Espensen checks a low kick from Mamba.
Espensen misses with a wild body shot.
Mamba jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Mamba misses with a two punch combination.
It seemed like Espensen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Espensen swings for the body but Mamba moves out of range.
Mamba misses with a looping left.
Espensen flicks out a counter leg kick but Mamba steps away.
Mamba gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Mamba on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
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!
Espensen lands with a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Espensen misses with an attempted mid kick.
Espensen scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Mamba thows a left - swing and a miss!
Espensen has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Espensen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Espensen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mamba lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Espensen circles away quickly and effectively.
Espensen just misses with a punch to the body.
Espensen scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Mamba doesn't seem bothered though.
Espensen punishes Mamba's body with a nice straight punch.
Mamba looks to score with a jab to the body but Espensen is just out of range.
It seemed like Espensen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Espensen misses with a looping right.
Espensen takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Espensen throws a lazy right hand but Mamba sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Jab, jab by Espensen - just one landing.
Espensen connects with a body shot that sends Mamba's belly button to the back.
Mamba throws a series of punches but Espensen avoids them all with ease.
Mamba throws a leg kick but Espensen sees it coming and moves out of range.
Espensen looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Mamba lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Mamba throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice jab there from Mamba.
Mamba throws a leg kick which misses Espensen's front leg but catches the back leg as Espensen tries to avoid it.
A swing and a miss from Espensen.
Espensen cracks Mamba with a right hand to the side of the head.
Mamba attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Espensen is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Mamba with a body shot.
Mamba tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Espensen is able to avoid easily.
Espensen connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Espensen closes the distance and lands a one-two.
A big right from Mamba misses.
Some bone on bone action there as Espensen checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

Mamba gets tackled into the cage by Espensen. Espensen maintains the clinch.
Espensen lands a right hand.
Mamba is trying to break the clinch but Espensen is controlling him.
Mamba is trying to break the clinch but Espensen is controlling him.

Mamba breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thorvald Espensen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Espensen blocks a head kick by Mamba.
The crowd cheers as Espensen lands an impressive looking overhand right. Mamba doesn't seem phased though.
Mamba ducks under a wild hook from Espensen.
Mamba throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Espensen.
Espensen let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Mamba misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Espensen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Mamba.
Mamba throws a half hearted mid kick.
Mamba shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Espensen lands a head shot.
Espensen scores with a jab.
Mamba doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Espensen is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Mamba.
Nice straight punches there by Espensen. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Espensen.
Espensen scores with a kick to the midsection.
Mamba wants to slow Espensen down by chopping away at his legs.
Espensen sizes up Mamba with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Mamba on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Mamba misses with a two punch combination.
Espensen fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Mamba misses with a hook. Espensen ducked under it nicely.
It seemed like Espensen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Espensen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mamba moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Espensen jabs Mamba right on the nose. Mamba blinks but takes it well.
A punch combination from Espensen misses.
Mamba throws a body shot but no joy.
Mamba takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thorvald Espensen dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Mamba walks into a jab.
Espensen lands with an overhand left.
Mamba stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Espensen.
Mamba gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Espensen.
Mamba throws a hook to the side of Espensen's head but Espensen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Espensen throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Espensen lands a leg kick that knocks Mamba off balance momentarily.
Nice straight punches there by Espensen. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Espensen.
Espensen on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Espensen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mamba throws out the jab.
Mamba throws a series of punches but Espensen moves out of range.
Espensen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mamba throws a body shot but no joy.
Espensen let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Mamba swings for the body but Espensen moves out of range.
Espensen throws out a counter right but Mamba avoids it with no problem.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mamba fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Espensen manages to avoid it.
Espensen lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Donk. Mamba catches Espensen right on the button with a cross.
Mamba scores with a hook to the body. Espensen takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Espensen throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Mamba is looking to counter punch.
Espensen works Mamba's body with a nice hook.
Espensen bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Mamba's head backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mamba connects with a right hand. Espensen shakes it off.
Mamba has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Mamba tries to move into range but Espensen moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Espensen wants to clinch up but Mamba keeps it at a distance.
Mamba takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Mamba throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Espensen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A jab from Mamba misses.
Mamba throws out a loose jab but Espensen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Espensen needs to keep his hands up - Mamba had a free shot at his head there.
Mamba throws a hook to the side of Espensen's head but Espensen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Espensen scores with a jab to the head.
Espensen throws a jab but it's blocked by Mamba.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Decent striking displayed by Espensen there.
Mamba throws a head kick that misses.
Mamba shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Espensen buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Espensen ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Espensen lands a front kick.
Espensen throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Espensen digs a good hook to Mamba's body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mamba takes one on the chin but seems OK.
A slapping body kick lands there for Mamba.
Espensen fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Mamba looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Mamba on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Nice defenses there by Mamba.
Espensen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Espensen scores with a kick to the midsection.
Mamba misses with a body kick.
Espensen connects with a body shot.
Espensen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mamba throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Mamba misses with a hook. Espensen ducked under it nicely.
A big left from Espensen misses.
Mamba takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Espensen moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Espensen lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Espensen scores with a spinning back kick!
Espensen works Mamba's body with a nice hook.
Espensen scores with a crisp jab that stopped Mamba in his tracks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Espensen stuns Mamba with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Espensen connects with a body shot that sends Mamba's belly button to the back.
Espensen lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Espensen lands a nice hook to Mamba's body. Mamba takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Mamba looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Mamba misses with a looping right.
A nice inside leg kick there by Espensen. That's going to slow Mamba down.
Mamba jabs Espensen right on the nose. Espensen blinks but takes it well.
Espensen connects with a jab.
Mamba takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Mamba avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Espensen with a hook.
Mamba walks into a stiff left hand from Espensen.
Mamba is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Espensen misses with an uppercut.
Espensen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mamba misses with a head kick.
Espensen feints a counter leg kick.
Espensen moves out of range as Mamba throws a body kick.
Espensen throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Espensen swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Mamba.
A bone on bone clash there as Espensen blocks the leg kick.
Espensen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mamba.
Espensen misses with a body shot.
Espensen connects with a right hand. Mamba shakes it off.
Espensen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mamba throws a looping overhand right but Espensen ducks down to avoid it.
A head kick by Espensen misses
and Mamba counters with a stiff right hand.
Thorvald Espensen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mamba swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Espensen misses with a wild body shot.
A quick step to the side and Mamba tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
A big right from Mamba misses.
Mamba throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Espensen takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Mamba has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Espensen.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Espensen checks a leg kick.
Mamba walks into a left hand.
A big right from Mamba misses.
Mamba with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Espensen to score with a decent uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thorvald Espensen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Mamba's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Mamba swings for the body but Espensen moves out of range.
Espensen slips a jab from Mamba.
Espensen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Mamba's sensitive parts.
Mamba looks to score with a jab to the body but Espensen is just out of range.
Mamba will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A countering left hand to the body from Espensen misses.
A chopping leg kick lands by Mamba.
Espensen throws a body kick that misses.
Mamba misses with a straight left.
Espensen turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Espensen digs a good hook to Mamba's body.
Mamba slips a jab from Espensen.
Mamba throws a hook but Espensen avoids it easily.
Espensen moves away from the strike by Mamba.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Espensen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Mamba went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Espensen takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Mamba scores with a jab to the jaw.
Espensen connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
The fighters circling - Espensen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A slow jab from Mamba misses its intended target.
Mamba throws a nice looking combination but Espensen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Espensen slips under a jab.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Espensen.
Espensen throws a hook but Mamba blocks it.
A little feinted left hand from Mamba on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Espensen misses the jab.
Espensen's jab looks to have found its range, popping Mamba under the eye.
A big right from Espensen misses.
Mamba takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Mamba throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Espensen connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Espensen scores with a jab to the jaw.
A jab from Mamba does it's job there.
Espensen throws a half hearted mid kick.
Espensen misses the shot to the body.
Mamba steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Espensen.
Espensen takes a shot right to the bread basket.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A slow jab from Espensen misses its intended target.
Espensen lands a nice shot to the body.
Espensen stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Mamba.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick from Mamba, right into the meat of the thigh.
Espensen lands with an overhand left.
Mamba misses with a hook. Espensen ducked under it nicely.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Mamba checks a leg kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Espensen misses the target.
Espensen takes a swing at Mamba's ribcage but misses.
Mamba ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Espensen loads up on a big right hand but Mamba slips the punch.
Espensen cracks Mamba with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Mamba wants to land a leg kick but Espensen is out of range.

Espensen drives through and clinches with Mamba against the cage.
Mamba swings wildly with an uppercut but Espensen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mamba looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Espensen misses with the head strike.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Espensen.
Espensen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Mamba blocks an uppercut.
Espensen lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Espensen misses with a punch to the body.
Mamba working hard to break the clinch.

Mamba manages to break the clinch.
Espensen scores with a nice head shot.
Mamba rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Espensen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
The fighters circling - Mamba throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Espensen's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Espensen duly obliges.
Mamba lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Espensen moves out of range as Mamba strikes.
Espensen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mamba.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Espensen tests Mamba's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Espensen with a nice calf kick.
Black Mamba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Espensen staying out of range there.
Espensen appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Espensen stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Espensen lands a leg kick that knocks Mamba off balance momentarily.
Espensen throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Espensen changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Espensen swings widly with a right hand
and Mamba counters with a nice leg kick.
Espensen defending well as Mamba loads up on a big left hand.
Espensen counters with a body kick.
Mamba walks into a left hand.
Espensen throws a lazy right hand but Mamba sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Espensen darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Espensen goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Espensen catches Mamba with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Mamba moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Mamba fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Espensen lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Espensen throws a lazy uppercut
and Mamba counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A bone on bone clash there as Espensen blocks the leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Espensen scores with a nice right hand.
Mamba tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Espensen was well out of range. Poor timing from Mamba.
Espensen missing with a left hand there. Mamba was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A quick step to the side and Mamba tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mamba throws a sloppy head kick and Espensen moves out of range easily.
Espensen moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thorvald Espensen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Espensen 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thorvald Espensen!
Thorvald Espensen seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
Black Mamba was interviewed post fight and said 'I'll be back..'.