PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sergei Morlikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommy Thatser (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.

Morlikov
vs
Thatser

195 cm
24
260 lbs
5 - 10 - 0

172 cm
24
210 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

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 5 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sergei Morlikov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tommy Thatser!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Tiny Johnson and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Morlikov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thatser.
Morlikov circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thatser looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Morlikov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Thatser moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A combination from Morlikov does no damage.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Morlikov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Morlikov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Morlikov blocks a head kick by Thatser.
Thatser doesn't manage to clinch there - Morlikov circles away.
Morlikov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thatser.
Thatser tries to clinch but Morlikov moves out of range.
Thatser is looking to clinch.
Thatser avoids a punch combination nicely.

Thatser pushes Morlikov up against the cage in a clinch.
Thatser tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Thatser blocking some punches.
Thatser looking to throw knees to the head but Morlikov is blocking nicely.
Thatser misses with a knee strike.
Thatser using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Morlikov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morlikov scores with a nice hook to the head.
Thatser using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Morlikov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Thatser tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Thatser throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Morlikov blocks it with crossed arms.
Morlikov lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Thatser misses with a knee to the head.
Thatser using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Morlikov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Thatser tries a knee to the head but Morlikov blocks it.
Thatser looks gassed!

Morlikov breaks from the clinch.
Thatser tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morlikov misses with a double jab.
Thatser tries to clinch there but Morlikov circles away.
Morlikov swats away the attempt to clinch by Thatser.
Morlikov scores with a one two! Thatser had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

It looks like Tommy Thatser has been cut.
Morlikov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Thatser tries to close the distance and clinch but Morlikov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Thatser has taken the fight to the clinch.
Thatser tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Thatser misses with a knee to the head.
Morlikov gets through Thatser's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Morlikov throws a punch but it's blocked by Thatser.
Thatser using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Morlikov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Thatser misses with a knee to the head.
Morlikov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Thatser misses with a knee strike.
Thatser looking to throw knees to the head but Morlikov is blocking nicely.
Morlikov has a couple of punches blocked by Thatser.
Morlikov lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Thatser backwards.
Thatser looking to throw knees to the head but Morlikov is blocking nicely.
Morlikov trying to stall but Thatser improves his position.
Morlikov throws a head punch that misses.
Thatser looking to throw knees to the head but Morlikov is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morlikov scores with a shot to the side of Thatser's head.
Thatser with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Morlikov lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Morlikov softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Thatser misses with a knee to the head.
Stalling in the clinch from Morlikov.
Thatser throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Morlikov blocks it with crossed arms.
Thatser connects with a nasty looking knee right to Morlikov's face.
Morlikov lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Thatser with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Morlikov stalling against the cage.
Thatser throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Morlikov blocks it with crossed arms.
Morlikov softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Morlikov works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Morlikov swings wildly with an uppercut but Thatser uses good head movement to avoid it.
Morlikov stalling in the clinch but Thatser improves position.
Morlikov lands a right hand.
Morlikov throws a punch but it's blocked by Thatser.
Thatser using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Morlikov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Thatser tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Thatser throws a knee to the head but misses.
Thatser with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Thatser throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Morlikov blocks it with crossed arms.
Morlikov is working Thatser over against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morlikov is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Thatser is keeping busy.
Thatser tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Thatser throws a knee to the head but misses.
Thatser throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Morlikov blocks it with crossed arms.
Thatser using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Morlikov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Morlikov lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Thatser with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Morlikov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Thatser looking to throw knees to the head but Morlikov is blocking nicely.
Thatser landing knees to the head.
Morlikov lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Thatser tries a knee to the head but Morlikov blocks it.
Morlikov tries to break the clinch but Thatser is controlling the position.
Thatser throws a knee to the head but misses.
Morlikov lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Thatser or not.
Morlikov dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Morlikov tries to work over Thatser's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Thatser with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Morlikov lands a nice uppercut.
Thatser tries to land a knee to the head but Morlikov blocks with his arms.
Thatser using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Morlikov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Morlikov is pushing Thatser up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Thatser tries a knee to the head but Morlikov blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Morlikov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Thatser using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Morlikov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Thatser tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Thatser misses with a knee to the head.
Thatser looking to throw knees to the head but Morlikov is blocking nicely.
Morlikov lands a left hand.
Thatser looking to throw knees to the head but Morlikov is blocking nicely.
Morlikov lands a body punch.
Morlikov working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Morlikov working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Thatser tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Morlikov.
Thatser tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Thatser looking to throw knees to the head but Morlikov is blocking nicely.
Thatser misses with a knee to the head.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Thatser throws a knee to the head but misses.
Morlikov lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Thatser.
Thatser tries a knee to the head but Morlikov blocks it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Morlikov working aggressively here.
Thatser tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Morlikov lands a right hand that snaps the head of Thatser backwards.
Thatser misses with a knee to the head.
Morlikov swings wildly with an uppercut but Thatser uses good head movement to avoid it.
Thatser misses with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergei Morlikov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tommy Thatser's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

The fight stays on the outside here - Thatser looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Thatser closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Thatser with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Morlikov trying to stall but Thatser improves his position.
Morlikov holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Thatser using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Morlikov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Thatser with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Morlikov content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Morlikov lands a body shot.
Thatser using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Morlikov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Thatser using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Morlikov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Thatser tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Morlikov working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Thatser misses with a knee strike.
Thatser with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Thatser using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Morlikov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morlikov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Morlikov 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.
Morlikov softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Thatser tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thatser tries a knee to the head but Morlikov blocks it.
Thatser looking to throw knees to the head but Morlikov is blocking nicely.
Thatser using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Morlikov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Thatser misses with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thatser tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Thatser tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Thatser tries a knee to the head but Morlikov blocks it.
Thatser throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Morlikov blocks it with crossed arms.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Morlikov takes a knee right on the jaw!
Thatser tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Morlikov lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Thatser tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Thatser tries a knee to the head but Morlikov blocks it.
Thatser tries a knee to the head but Morlikov blocks it.
Thatser with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Thatser scores with a knee to the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Thatser as Morlikov tries to tie him up.
Thatser tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Morlikov has a couple of punches blocked by Thatser.
Morlikov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Morlikov misses with a body punch.
Thatser misses with a knee strike.
Still in the clinch, Morlikov scores with a nice short uppercut.
Morlikov takes a knee right on the jaw!
A shot in the inside from Morlikov.
Thatser looking to throw knees to the head but Morlikov is blocking nicely.
Thatser tries to land a knee to the head but Morlikov blocks with his arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Morlikov stalling in the clinch but Thatser improves position.
Thatser throws a knee to the head but misses.
Thatser with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Morlikov wants to get back to striking at distance but Thatser won't allow it.
Morlikov throws an elbow but it misses.
Thatser tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Morlikov lands a left hand that snaps the head of Thatser backwards.
Thatser tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Thatser using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Morlikov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Thatser tries a knee to the head but Morlikov blocks it.
A knee to the head by Thatser.
Thatser throws a knee to the head but misses.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Morlikov swings wildly with an uppercut but Thatser uses good head movement to avoid it.
Morlikov is leaning against Thatser and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Morlikov lands a nice uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Morlikov.
Thatser throws a knee to the head but misses.
Morlikov works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
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 he's missed.
Thatser tries to land a knee to the head but Morlikov blocks with his arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right hand to the body from Morlikov.
A body shot lands from Morlikov.
Thatser with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Thatser with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Thatser with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Thatser tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Thatser tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Thatser misses with a knee strike.
Thatser tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Morlikov lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Morlikov - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Thatser using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Morlikov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Thatser tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Nice body punch from Morlikov.
Thatser tries to land a knee to the head but Morlikov blocks with his arms.
Morlikov swings wildly with an uppercut but Thatser uses good head movement to avoid it.
Morlikov misses with a punch on the inside.
Thatser tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Thatser tries a knee to the head but Morlikov blocks it.
A head punch on the inside from Morlikov fails to land.
Morlikov lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Morlikov lands a left hand that snaps the head of Thatser backwards.
Morlikov tries to break free but Thatser pushes him back against the cage.
Thatser misses with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Thatser misses with a knee to the head.
Thatser misses with a knee strike.
Thatser with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Thatser tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Morlikov looking to slow down the pace here.
Thatser throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Morlikov blocks it with crossed arms.
Thatser throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Morlikov blocks it with crossed arms.
Morlikov is looking to control Thatser's arms but Thatser gets an underhook and turns him. Now Morlikov has his back to the cage.
A short left from Morlikov.
Thatser tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Morlikov.
Morlikov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Thatser tries a knee to the head but Morlikov blocks it.
Morlikov scores with a hook to the body.
Thatser with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Morlikov looking to slow down the pace here.
Thatser throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Morlikov blocks it with crossed arms.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Morlikov working aggressively here.
Thatser with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Morlikov leaning against his opponent.
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 he's missed.
Thatser tries a knee to the head but Morlikov blocks it.
Morlikov lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Sergei Morlikov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tommy Thatser's cut.
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!

Morlikov misses with a two punch combination.
Morlikov misses with a jab, cross combination.
No joy there for Thatser, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Thatser tries to clinch but Morlikov moves out of range.
Thatser wants to clinch up but Morlikov keeps it at a distance.
Thatser tries to clinch up.
Thatser throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Thatser is looking to clinch.
Morlikov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Thatser tries to clinch there but Morlikov circles away.
Morlikov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thatser.
Thatser tries to close the distance and clinch but Morlikov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Thatser showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Morlikov.
Some wild striking there from Morlikov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Thatser takes the fight into the clinch.
Thatser tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Thatser using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Morlikov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A short right from Morlikov.
Thatser avoids a wild elbow strike from Morlikov.
Thatser throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Morlikov blocks it with crossed arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thatser misses with a knee to the head.
Morlikov working hard to break the clinch.
Morlikov is trying to stall.
Morlikov softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Thatser misses with a knee to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Morlikov.
Thatser with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Thatser tries to land a knee to the head but Morlikov blocks with his arms.
Thatser tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
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 Morlikov blocks it with crossed arms.
Morlikov lands an uppercut.
Morlikov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Morlikov tries a body shot but Thatser blocks it.
Thatser with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Morlikov lands a shoulder strike.
Thatser tries a knee to the head but Morlikov blocks it.
Morlikov lands with a left to the head.
Thatser throws a knee to the head but misses.
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 using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Morlikov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Thatser throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Morlikov blocks it with crossed arms.
Thatser tries to land a knee to the head but Morlikov blocks with his arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Thatser with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Morlikov lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Thatser using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Morlikov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Thatser managing to block the knees to the body from Morlikov.
Thatser blocking some punches.
Morlikov presses Thatser against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Thatser with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Thatser with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Morlikov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Thatser blocking some punches.
Morlikov throws a punch but it's blocked by Thatser.
Thatser prevents Morlikov from breaking the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Morlikov fails to land.
Thatser misses with a knee to the head.
Thatser misses with a knee to the head.
Morlikov lands a left hand.
Thatser with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Morlikov lands a body punch in the clinch.
Morlikov throws a punch but it's blocked by Thatser.
Thatser tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Thatser tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Morlikov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Stalling in the clinch from Morlikov.
Thatser with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Morlikov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thatser tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morlikov swinging wilding here.
Thatser tries to clinch there but Morlikov circles away.
A head kick misses from Thatser.
Thatser tries to clinch up but Morlikov circles away and keeps his distance.
Thatser scores with a head kick.
Morlikov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Thatser tries to close the distance and clinch but Morlikov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Thatser dodges the punch combination from Morlikov.
Morlikov swinging wilding here.
Morlikov throws a series of punches but Thatser avoids them all with ease.
Thatser tries to clinch there but Morlikov circles away.
Sergei Morlikov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Morlikov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Morlikov tries to bum rush Thatser with a series of wild strikes but Thatser uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Morlikov fails to land with a series of punches.
Morlikov tries to bum rush Thatser with a series of wild strikes but Thatser uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Thatser tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Thatser is looking to clinch but Morlikov is avoiding it.
Thatser tries to clinch but Morlikov moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Thatser tries to clinch but Morlikov moves out of range.
Morlikov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Thatser wants to clinch.
Morlikov looks to land a combination but Thatser avoids it well.
Morlikov swinging wilding here.
Tommy Thatser has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thatser moves in looking to clinch but Morlikov pushes him off.
Thatser tries to clinch but Morlikov is having none of it.
Thatser moves in looking to clinch but Morlikov pushes him off.
Morlikov tries to bum rush Thatser with a series of wild strikes but Thatser uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Morlikov swinging wilding here.
Thatser lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Morlikov lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Thatser backs up against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A combination from Morlikov does no damage.
Morlikov tries to bum rush Thatser with a series of wild strikes but Thatser uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Morlikov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thatser.
Thatser pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Morlikov keeps the fight on the outside.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tommy Thatser.
I think Morlikov has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sergei Morlikov!