PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Sid Thunder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gina Carano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Thunder
vs
Carano

169 cm
22
142 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

173 cm
21
141 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Granite chin

Grappling Pro Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sid Thunder!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gina Carano!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Mauricio Rocha and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Carano connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Carano tries to clinch up.
Carano tries a head kick but it misses.
Thunder throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Carano tries to score with a low kick but Thunder moves his leg out of the way.
Carano will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Thunder steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Carano.
Carano fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Thunder looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Carano throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Thunder stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Carano fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thunder manages to avoid it.
Thunder throws a low kick but it's checked well by Carano.
Carano misses with a wild body shot.
Carano misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thunder.
Thunder tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Carano misses with a few strikes there.
Thunder takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Carano closes the distance and pushes Thunder back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunder tries to pull guard but Carano won't allow it.
Thunder blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Carano tries to land knees in the clinch but Thunder avoids the damage to the body.
Carano with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Carano tries a knee to the head but Thunder blocks it.
Thunder wants to get back to striking at distance but Carano won't allow it.
Carano using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Carano misses with a knee strike.
Thunder lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Carano.
Knees to the body from Carano.
Thunder lands a body punch in the clinch.
A knee to the head by Carano.
Carano misses with a hook from the clinch.
Carano connects with a knee to the head.
Carano trying to land knees to the body.
Thunder presses Carano against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Thunder is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Carano pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Carano looking to throw knees to the head but Thunder is blocking nicely.

Thunder breaks from the clinch.
Thunder throws a leg kick
and Carano counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Thunder thinking.
Carano throws a big shot that misses.
Carano jabs at Thunder's body.
Thunder misses with a hook. Carano ducked under it nicely.
Carano avoids the body shot from Thunder.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carano tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Carano wants to clinch up but Thunder keeps it at a distance.
Carano swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Carano looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Carano chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Carano is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Thunder rather than just go for the knockout.
Carano jabs at Thunder's body.
Thunder looks to score with a jab to the body but Carano is just out of range.
Carano checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Carano tries to clinch there but Thunder circles away.
Thunder is looking to clinch.
Carano throws a predictable looking body shot
and Thunder counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A shot to the body from Carano misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Gina Carano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thunder rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Carano moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Thunder fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sid Thunder. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carano throws a sloppy head kick and Thunder moves out of range easily.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Carano 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 Thunder has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Thunder and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Thunder checks the leg kick.
Carano misses with the combination.
Thunder swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Carano lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Carano tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thunder paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A slapping leg kick lands for Carano.
Thunder shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Carano as he jumps to the side.
Carano connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carano swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Carano wants to slow Thunder down by chopping away at his legs.
Carano tries to land a front kick but Thunder steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Carano misses with a body shot
and Thunder cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Carano takes a swing at Thunder's ribcage but misses.
Thunder takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Carano swinging wilding here.
Carano uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thunder.
A slapping leg kick lands for Carano.
Carano checks a low kick from Thunder.
Thunder wants to clinch up but Carano keeps it at a distance.
Carano tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Thunder was well out of range. Poor timing from Carano.
Carano cracks the inside of Thunder's front leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gina Carano dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Carano bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Thunder's head.
Carano lands a nice leg kick that just misses Thunder's sensitive parts.
Carano swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Thunder counters with an outside leg kick.
Carano moves in looking to clinch but Thunder pushes him off.
Carano throws out a loose jab but Thunder uses good head movement to avoid it.
Carano finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Carano lands with an overhand left.
Carano throws a body punch but Thunder moves out of range.
Carano looks to land a left hand but Thunder moved out of range nicely.
Thunder ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Carano misses with a body shot

so Thunder counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Carano keeping moving, preventing Thunder from controlling successfully.
Thunder missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thunder postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Carano is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Thunder, into his guard.

Thunder looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Carano passes into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Carano has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carano misses with a head kick.
Thunder moves out of range as Carano strikes.
Carano has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Thunder finds it's way round the side to connect with Carano's head.
Thunder paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Carano throws a head kick that misses.
Thunder blocks a head kick by Carano.
Thunder walks into a left hand.
Carano dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Thunder. That did some damage!
Carano throws a head kick but Thunder moves out of range.
A head kick by Thunder misses
and Carano makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Carano jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thunder shoots in but Carano avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Gina Carano is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Carano throws a head kick that misses

and Thunder counters with a takedown into side control.
Thunder tries to score with some ground and pound. Carano controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Carano parries the strikes from Thunder easily there. Thunder is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Carano to escape.
Thunder wants to control but Carano is keeping him busy.
Thunder tries to advance to mount but Carano denies him.

Thunder looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thunder wants to control but Carano is keeping him busy.
Carano manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Carano wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thunder keeps working.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Carano throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Carano keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sid Thunder dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Thunder clinches up with Carano and pushes him back against the cage.
Carano lands an uppercut.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Carano is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Thunder is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Carano tries a knee to the head but Thunder blocks it.
Carano with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Thunder lands a body punch.
Carano pushes Thunder back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Carano scores with a shot to the side of Thunder's head.
A right hand to the body from Carano.
Carano scores with a knee to the head.
Carano throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Thunder blocks it with crossed arms.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Carano obliges.
Thunder goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Carano tries to land knees in the clinch but Thunder avoids the damage to the body.
Carano lands a body punch in the clinch.
Thunder drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Carano gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Carano tries to land knees in the clinch but Thunder avoids the damage to the body.
Thunder tries to throw a body punch but Carano avoids it by throwing Thunder back against the cage.
Carano crunches a lovely knee into Thunder's ribcage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Carano blocks a body shot from Thunder.
Carano with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Carano tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Thunder lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Carano or not.
Thunder is looking to break free of the clinch but Carano has double underhooks.
Carano lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Thunder backwards.
Thunder wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Carano with a knee to the head.
Carano lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Carano keeps control of Thunder as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Thunder is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Nice body punch from Thunder.
Thunder wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Thunder has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Carano presses Thunder against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Carano lands a body shot.
Carano utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Thunder goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Carano lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Carano unloads a knee to the mid-section. Thunder lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Carano digs a right hand underneath Thunder's ribcage. Thunder let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Carano prevents the takedown attempt.
Thunder is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Come on Carano - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Carano landing knees to the head.
Thunder is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Carano gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sid Thunder. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Carano.
Carano lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Thunder being controlled against the cage.
Thunder has a couple of punches blocked by Carano.
Carano misses with a knee strike.
Thunder fails to pull guard.
Thunder tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Carano's elbow.
Carano unloads a knee to the mid-section. Thunder lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Carano looking to stall.
Carano scores with a shoulder strike.
Thunder on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Thunder.
Thunder misses with a hook to the ribs.

Thunder has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Carano regains guard immediately.
Carano is looking to stand up but Thunder isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thunder trying to control the position from guard on top but Carano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thunder loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Carano keeping full guard, as Thunder tries to pass.
Thunder throws a strike but Carano rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Thunder looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Carano wants to stand but Thunder has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Thunder throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Thunder misses with a jab, cross combination.
Carano moves in looking to clinch but Thunder pushes him off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gina Carano comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Carano has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gina Carano!