PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rocky Bagend (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Martin Thunder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thunder has chosen Genesis as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bagend
vs
Thunder

178 cm
19
143 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

225 cm
19
146 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rocky Bagend!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Martin Thunder!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, John Mangel and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thunder shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bagend pinned against the cage. Bagend gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Thunder will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Thunder shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Bagend is trying to defend but Thunder finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Bagend might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Bagend gets back to full guard.
Bagend preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Thunder stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bagend swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Thunder won't allow Bagend to sweep him here.
Thunder loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bagend looking to hit a scissor sweep but Thunder is one step ahead there.
Thunder throws a strike but Bagend rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Thunder wants to sweep here but Bagend controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunder working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bagend.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Thunder uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bagend.
Thunder shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bagend as he avoids it easily.
Rocky Bagend has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Martin Thunder.
Thunder fails to land the takedown.
Bagend's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Bagend duly obliges.
Bagend connects with a body shot.
Thunder shoots in looking for a takedown. Bagend tries to sprawl out of it but Thunder keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bagend manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Bagend throws a right and a left that both miss.
Bagend uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Bagend loads up on a big right hand but Thunder slips the punch.
Bagend rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Thunder moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Thunder shoots in and drives through. Bagend sprawls well.
Bagend fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thunder manages to avoid it.
Thunder shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bagend as he avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Bagend as Thunder shoots in.
Thunder looks gassed!
Thunder fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Thunder fails with the takedown.
Bagend throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Bagend looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Thunder tries to get to full guard but Bagend has control of the leg.
Bagend is trying to control the action in half guard but Thunder is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Thunder tries to roll over but Bagend keeps him under control.
Bagend controlling the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bagend seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Thunder does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thunder wants to get back to full guard.
Bagend throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Bagend misses with a double jab.
Thunder has his takedown stuffed
and Bagend counters with a left to the body.
Thunder doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Bagend counters with a one-two to the body.
Bagend swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Bagend misses with a jab, cross combination.
Martin Thunder seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thunder has his takedown stuffed
and Bagend counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Thunder with a lazy takedown attempt
and Bagend counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bagend lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Thunder circles away quickly and effectively.
Bagend misses with the combination.
Thunder misses with a takedown
and Bagend counters with a three punch combo that has Thunder backing up. Thunder nods at Bagend to acknowledge the strikes.

Thunder is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bagend thuds a left hand into Thunder's body.
Thunder is still on wobbly legs! Can Bagend finish him?
Bagend throws a series of strikes that have Thunder backpedaling.
Bagend looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Thunder with a lazy takedown attempt
and Bagend counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Thunder thinking.
Some wild striking there from Bagend.
Bagend lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Thunder showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bagend.

Bagend closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Thunder is trying to get back to half guard.
Thunder is being controlled here.
Thunder is looking to reverse the position.
Thunder seems to have recovered his senses.
Bagend controlling the position.
Thunder is trying to work for a sweep but Bagend has mounted him!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocky Bagend dominated that round.
That's time! Bagend's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Thunder shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Bagend counters with a shoot takedown. Thunder fights it but they end up in guard.
Bagend wants to control from the top but Thunder keeps moving.
Bagend slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Thunder tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Thunder is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Bagend stands up.
Bagend throws a right and a left that Thunder avoids nicely.
Bagend fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Thunder tries for a takedown but Bagend circles away easily
and Bagend counters with a series of strikes. Thunder will be more careful next time no doubt.

Bagend changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Thunder looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Thunder tries to buck Bagend off but Bagend is having none of it.
Bagend trying to control the action but Thunder is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunder regains half guard.
Thunder is breathing heavily.
Thunder works his way to full guard. Good work.
Bagend wants to stand but Thunder has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Thunder wants to sweep but no luck.
Bagend controls from within his opponent's guard.
Thunder keeping moving, preventing Bagend from controlling successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Thunder is on top in guard.
Bagend wants to get back to his feet but Thunder is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thunder working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Thunder postures up.
Bagend preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Bagend looking for a sweep. Not yet Bagend, not yet.
Thunder tries to free his leg and advance position but Bagend is retaining full guard.
Thunder throwing strikes from guard but Bagend blocks nicely.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bagend dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Thunder gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Bagend counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Rocky Bagend has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Martin Thunder.
Bagend swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bagend closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Bagend trying to mount his opponent but Thunder defends it.
Bagend passes the guard and advances to mount!
Thunder sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Bagend trying to pass the guard but Thunder defending well.
Thunder is looking for a sweep. Bagend is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bagend seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Thunder does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Thunder tries to get to full guard but Bagend has control of the leg.
Bagend controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thunder moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Bagend trying to control but Thunder is working from the bottom.
Thunder looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Thunder looking to control.
Thunder is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Thunder seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Bagend is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocky Bagend dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Bagend drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Thunder wants to sweep here but Bagend controlling him for the moment.
Bagend wants to pass the guard but Thunder is keeping the position.
Thunder looking for a sweep. Not yet Thunder, not yet.
Bagend trying to control the position from guard on top but Thunder is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thunder is trying to control the position but Bagend postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Thunder with a lazy takedown attempt
and Bagend counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Bagend moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Thunder takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bagend lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bagend fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Thunder sprawls well initially but Bagend persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Bagend in particular looking to stall.
Thunder is trying to get back to full guard.
Thunder is looking to control Bagend's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Thunder avoid being mounted?
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Thunder wants to improve his position but Bagend is controlling well.
Bagend slows the pace down in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thunder is not content to let Bagend control the position.
Thunder is looking for a sweep. Bagend is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bagend is keen to just control but Thunder is a slippery customer.
Thunder moves into full guard.
Thunder bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bagend's guard.
Thunder must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Thunder throwing strikes from guard but Bagend blocks nicely.
Bagend tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rocky Bagend overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Thunder throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Thunder stands up over Bagend, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bagend seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Bagend is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Thunder manages to get to full guard.
Bagend trying to control the position from guard on top but Thunder is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bagend controlling from the top position.
Thunder tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Thunder tries to strike from the bottom.

That's four 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.
Bagend is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Thunder trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Bagend trying to control the position from guard on top but Thunder is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thunder can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Bagend controls the pace.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Rocky Bagend just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Thunder keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thunder doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Bagend counters with a left to the body.
Thunder gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Bagend counters with a three punch combo that has Thunder backing up. Thunder nods at Bagend to acknowledge the strikes.
Rocky Bagend has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Martin Thunder.
Thunder gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Bagend counters with a left and a right that stings Thunder.

Bagend shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Thunder napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Thunder is trying to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rocky Bagend showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bagend has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rocky Bagend!