PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sam Thelank (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Anderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Anderson has chosen Transparent as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Thelank
vs
Anderson

201 cm
19
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Sam Thelank!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jack Anderson!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Daniel Bishop and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thelank has closed the distance and engaged Anderson in a clinch.
Anderson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Anderson tries a body shot but Thelank blocks it.

Thelank has hold of one of Anderson's legs. Anderson is fighting the takedown attempt but Thelank gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Anderson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Thelank trying to control the position from guard on top but Anderson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thelank knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Anderson on the ground.

Anderson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Anderson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anderson is pulling down on Thelank's head to control his posture.
Anderson looks gassed!
Thelank wants to control from the top but Anderson keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Anderson controls Thelank momentarily but Thelank frees himself.
Anderson wants to sweep but no luck.
Anderson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Thelank cracks the inside of Anderson's front leg.

Thelank pushes Anderson up against the cage in a clinch.

Thelank breaks from the clinch.

Thelank closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Anderson to the mat! Anderson manages to get full guard.
Thelank missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thelank wants to get up but he can't break Anderson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Anderson keeping moving, preventing Thelank from controlling successfully.

Anderson has his foot on Thelank's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Thelank works his way back into a safe position though.
Thelank with a flurry of punches that miss.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Anderson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Thelank throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Thelank wants to control from the top but Anderson keeps moving.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Anderson is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Thelank.
Thelank shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Anderson but Anderson pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Anderson throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Thelank was covering up waiting for the punch and Anderson finishes the takedown easily into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Thelank dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Thelank shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Thelank showed some decent athleticism there.
Anderson is looking to control Thelank's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Anderson avoid being mounted?
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thelank trying to mount his opponent but Anderson defends it.
Thelank throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Thelank sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Anderson defending well though.

Anderson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Thelank wants to stand up but Anderson has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Anderson tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Thelank counters with a shoot takedown. Anderson fights it but they end up in guard.
Thelank loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thelank throws and elbow that misses. Anderson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Thelank's guard. Nice move by Anderson!

Thelank working for a triangle but Anderson defends it easily.
Anderson prevents Thelank from getting back to his feet.
Anderson preventing the sweep.
Anderson trying to control the position from guard on top but Thelank is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thelank is looking to sweep but instead, Anderson has passed into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Thelank is defending against the submission attempts here by Anderson.
Thelank is refusing to be controlled, as Anderson sits in half guard.
Thelank tries to roll over but Anderson keeps him under control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Anderson frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Thelank dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Thelank scores with a head kick.
Thelank fails with the takedown

and Anderson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Thelank's guard now.
Anderson passes into half guard.
Anderson passes the guard and advances to mount!
Anderson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Thelank is looking to escape.
Jack Anderson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thelank is wriggling around trying to escape.
Thelank wants to try and get back to his feet.
Anderson scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Anderson looking to control but Thelank is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Anderson avoids the attempt from Thelank to control.
Anderson lands with some strikes.

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.
Thelank in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Anderson throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Anderson content just to control the position here.
Anderson putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Anderson putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Anderson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Thelank is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anderson landing strikes from the mount.
Anderson avoids the attempt from Thelank to control.
Sam Thelank is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Thelank blocking the ground and pound.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Anderson cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Thelank holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Anderson tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Thelank keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Anderson throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Anderson lands with some strikes.

Anderson has hold of Thelank's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Thelank manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Thelank manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Jack Anderson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thelank keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Thelank wants to control but Anderson is keeping busy.
Anderson lands strikes from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Anderson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Thelank 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sam Thelank!