PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sheikh Mahmut (ranked 700 p4p, 1007 weight class) and Balthasar Van Thüringen (ranked 75 p4p, 109 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Mahmut
vs
Van Thüringen

207 cm
33
275
18 - 11 - 0

192 cm
29
235
16 - 9 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

NARCOS
30th Century Beer Store

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 18 - 11 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sheikh Mahmut!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Balthasar Van Thüringen!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Percy O'Donnell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Thüringen throws a good cross that connects.

It looks like Sheikh Mahmut has been cut.
Van Thüringen drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

It looks like Balthasar Van Thüringen has been cut.
Mahmut takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Mahmut shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Van Thüringen lands a lovely overhand right.
Van Thüringen misses with a looping left.
Mahmut lands with a cross.

Mahmut drops Van Thüringen with a big left hand and mounts him. Van Thüringen is in big trouble!

Van Thüringen is rocked!
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!
Van Thüringen wants to get back to his feet.
Mahmut sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Thüringen wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Mahmut takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Van Thüringen wants to try and get back to his feet.
Mahmut controlling his opponent.
Van Thüringen is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Mahmut looking to control and managing it successfully.
Van Thüringen is trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mahmut content just to control the position here.
Van Thüringen is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Mahmut has taken his back!
Van Thüringen is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Van Thüringen manages to get to his feet, escaping the difficult position.
Mahmut blocks a jab.
Mahmut throws a hook to the side of Van Thüringen's head but Van Thüringen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Van Thüringen misses with a hook. Mahmut ducked under it nicely.
Van Thüringen swings away with a body shot that misses
and Mahmut counters with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mahmut staying out of range there.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Van Thüringen. Mahmut shrugs it off though.
Van Thüringen on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Mahmut avoids a kick to the body.
Nice uppercut there from Van Thüringen.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Oh, that's a big right hand from Mahmut and Van Thüringen goes tumbling to the canvas! Mahmut follows him to the ground and looks to finish from half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Mahmut in particular looking to stall.
Mahmut prevents Van Thüringen from standing back up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sheikh Mahmut dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Oh, that's a big right hand from Mahmut and Van Thüringen goes tumbling to the canvas! Mahmut follows him to the ground and looks to finish from half guard.
Mahmut controlling the action here.
Mahmut tries to pass the half guard into mount. Van Thüringen knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
It looks like Mahmut is going to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mahmut moves nicely into side control.
Mahmut is staying tight to Van Thüringen's torso, preventing him from escaping.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.
Mahmut tries to move to mount but Van Thüringen blocks the move with his legs.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Van Thüringen tries to land a front kick but Mahmut steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Mahmut uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Van Thüringen.
Van Thüringen misses with a hook. Mahmut ducked under it nicely.
Mahmut is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Van Thüringen can do to turn this around?
Mahmut throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Van Thüringen's coach down at EMP WORLDCLASS was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Van Thüringen's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Mahmut looks to throw the jab but Van Thüringen is out of range.
Mahmut jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Van Thüringen lands a really nice looking cross but Mahmut seems unphased.
Mahmut lands with a straight right. Van Thüringen didn't see that one coming.
Van Thüringen misses with a kick to the body.
Mahmut swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Mahmut fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Mahmut takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Van Thüringen throws a looping overhand right but Mahmut ducks down to avoid it.
Mahmut pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Thüringen misses with a lunging right hand
and Mahmut counters with a straight right hand.
Van Thüringen thuds his right hand into Mahmut's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Van Thüringen misses with a body kick.
Van Thüringen ducks under a wild hook from Mahmut.
A jab from Mahmut misses.
Van Thüringen looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Mahmut is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Mahmut walks into a jab.
Sheikh Mahmut is winning the standup battle so far.
Van Thüringen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Mahmut.
It seemed like Van Thüringen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Van Thüringen lands a lovely overhand right.
Mahmut throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Van Thüringen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Van Thüringen feints the counter takedown.
Nice cross by Van Thüringen.
Van Thüringen avoids the head kick by Mahmut.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Mahmut crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Van Thüringen - the referee stops the clock and Mahmut gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Van Thüringen. Mahmut manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Van Thüringen misses the jab.
It looks like Mahmut has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Mahmut swings for the body but Van Thüringen moves out of range.
Mahmut throws a hook but Van Thüringen avoids it easily.
Van Thüringen tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Mahmut bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Thüringen throws a body shot but no joy.
Mahmut takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Sheikh Mahmut's cut is getting worse.
Mahmut misses with a hook. Van Thüringen ducked under it nicely.
Van Thüringen misses with an uppercut.
Van Thüringen digs a good hook to Mahmut's body.
Mahmut misses the jab.
Nice body kick from Van Thüringen.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mahmut throws a big shot that misses.
Van Thüringen is looking to land body kicks.
Nice cross by Van Thüringen.
Mahmut misses with a straight right.
Van Thüringen throws out a counter right but Mahmut avoids it with no problem.
Van Thüringen jabs Mahmut to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Van Thüringen.
Van Thüringen throws a lazy right hand but Mahmut sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Van Thüringen misses with a hook. Mahmut ducked under it nicely.
Van Thüringen lands with a right hand.
Van Thüringen misses with an uppercut.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Balthasar Van Thüringen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Van Thüringen misses with a looping left.
Van Thüringen's jab looks to have found its range, popping Mahmut under the eye.
Mahmut feints and then cracks Van Thüringen's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Van Thüringen down.
Van Thüringen throws an off balance right hand
and Mahmut cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mahmut moves forwards but Van Thüringen connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Van Thüringen swings widly with a right hand
and Mahmut counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Van Thüringen defending well as Mahmut loads up on a big left hand.
Van Thüringen goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Mahmut staying out of range there.
Van Thüringen misses with a body shot
and Mahmut cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Van Thüringen throws a half hearted mid kick.
Van Thüringen lands a front kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Van Thüringen throws a poor cross that misses
and Mahmut counters with a beautiful right hand that knocks Van Thüringen out cold! What a finish! Mahmut is going crazy, running around the mat, summersaulting off the corner posts and screaming into the cameras. Something tells me he's pretty happy!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Sheikh Mahmut!
Post fight, an emotional Sheikh Mahmut said 'There was something about that guys face, you just wanted to beat the hell out of it. He can't get any uglier so why not. Praise Allah Akbar!!!!'.