PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Cage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommy Thatser (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cage comes to the cage accompanied by "Can't Be Touched" by Roy Jones Jr.. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Cage
vs
Thatser

179 cm
20
270 lbs
3 - 8 - 0

172 cm
24
210 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

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 3 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alexander Cage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tommy Thatser!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Stewart Dunkirk and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thatser tries to clinch there but Cage circles away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Thatser instigates a clinch.
Cage drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Thatser gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Thatser misses with a knee to the head.
Cage has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Thatser avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Thatser throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cage blocks it with crossed arms.
A knee to the head by Thatser.
Cage really is a fat lump.
Thatser with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Thatser tries a knee to the head but Cage blocks it.
A knee to the head by Thatser.
Thatser misses with a knee to the head.
Thatser with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Thatser throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cage blocks it with crossed arms.
Thatser tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Thatser tries a knee to the head but Cage blocks it.
Thatser tries to land a knee to the head but Cage blocks with his arms.
Thatser misses with a knee to the head.
Thatser looks gassed!
Thatser throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cage blocks it with crossed arms.
Thatser gets underhooks to prevent Cage's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Cage. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thatser throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cage blocks it with crossed arms.

Cage gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Cage in particular looking to stall.
Cage moves nicely into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Thatser's face as Cage controls the position.
Cage passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Thatser!
Cage controlling the pace for now.
Thatser has given up his back. Will we see Cage going for some submissions?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thatser is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Cage seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Thatser for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Alexander Cage just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Cage shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Thatser's guard.
Cage pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thatser is keeping the position for now.
Cage advances position into side control!
Thatser tries to bench press Cage off him but Cage keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cage trying to control the action but Thatser is working from the bottom.
Thatser is looking to reverse the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cage is staying tight to Thatser's torso, preventing him from escaping.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Cage dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Cage shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Cage was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Cage can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Thatser is looking to escape.
Thatser wants to hold on but Cage pushes him away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thatser is wriggling around trying to escape.
Thatser blocking the ground and pound.
Thatser tries to hold on but Cage pushes him away.
Thatser can't escape the position.
Thatser is squirming around, avoiding Cage's attempts to control the action.
Cage 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.
Thatser is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Thatser wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Thatser is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Thatser wants to escape the position.
Thatser is keeping busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thatser can't escape the position.
Cage trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Thatser doesn't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cage struggling to keep hold of the position.
Thatser tries to escape the position.
Cage controlling the position well here. Thatser rolled but Cage kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Alexander Cage just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Cage shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Thatser tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cage paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cage shoots in but Thatser avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cage fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Thatser clinches.
Thatser with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Thatser tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Thatser using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cage has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Thatser using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cage has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Thatser throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cage blocks it with crossed arms.
Thatser with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Thatser using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cage has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Thatser throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cage blocks it with crossed arms.
Thatser tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Thatser with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Thatser throws a knee to the head but misses.
Thatser throws a knee to the head but misses.
Thatser connects with a nasty looking knee right to Cage's face.
Thatser looking to throw knees to the head but Cage is blocking nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thatser lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Thatser with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Thatser using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cage has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Thatser using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cage has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Cage manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Cage 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!

Cage fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Cage bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Cage trying to control the position but Thatser is working away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thatser wants to control but Cage postures up.
Cage throws an elbow but Thatser slips to the side and avoids it well.
Thatser is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Thatser stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Thatser wants it to stay on the feet.
Thatser is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Thatser tries to clinch but Cage moves out of range.
Tommy Thatser seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Cage is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Thatser's half guard.
Cage perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Cage looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Cage wants to control but Thatser is keeping him busy.
Thatser is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cage is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's four 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.
Cage works his foot free and advances to mount.
Tommy Thatser has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cage tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Cage showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cage, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Cage!