PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tank Thunderclap (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Clayton Harding (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thunderclap's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, ThunderStruck. Clayton Harding has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Thunderclap
vs
Harding

183 cm
26
252 lbs
7 - 1 - 1

185 cm
20
230 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Rivers Edge Nutrition

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 7 - 1 - 1, fighting out of New York, Tank Thunderclap!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Clayton Harding!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Reed Andrews and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thunderclap swats away the attempt to clinch by Harding.
Harding tries to clinch up but Thunderclap circles away and keeps his distance.
Thunderclap swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Harding tries to close the distance and clinch up but Thunderclap swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Thunderclap circles away from the clinch attempt.
Clayton Harding seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Thunderclap gets a takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thunderclap missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Harding blocking the ground and pound attempt from Thunderclap.
Thunderclap thows a huge punch but Harding dodges it nicely.
Thunderclap missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Thunderclap with the ground and pound but Harding uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunderclap missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Thunderclap is looking to work some ground and pound but Harding has wrist control.
Thunderclap cracks Harding with a solid left hand.
Thunderclap working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Harding can do anything to dispel that myth.
Thunderclap throwing strikes from guard but Harding blocks nicely.
Thunderclap makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Harding is adopting a defensive guard.
Thunderclap is working Harding over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thunderclap missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Thunderclap with a flurry of punches that miss.
Thunderclap throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Harding works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Thunderclap landing with the ground and pound.
Thunderclap lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thunderclap throws a strike but Harding rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Harding wants to pass the guard but Thunderclap is keeping the position.
Harding stopping the sweep attempt from Thunderclap.
Thunderclap throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

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.
Thunderclap throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Thunderclap wants to sweep here but Harding controlling him for the moment.

Harding avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Thunderclap is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Harding defends well.

Thunderclap had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Harding defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tank Thunderclap dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Harding tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Thunderclap will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Harding doesn't manage to clinch there - Thunderclap circles away.
Thunderclap throws a series of punches but Harding moves out of range.
Harding fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Thunderclap will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Harding is looking to clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Harding as Thunderclap shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tank Thunderclap. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Harding avoids a punch combination nicely.
Harding keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Thunderclap.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Harding pushes Thunderclap up against the cage in a clinch.
Harding using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Harding tries a knee to the head but Thunderclap blocks it.
Harding lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Tank Thunderclap has been cut.
Harding with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Harding throws an elbow that misses.
Thunderclap tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Harding just stands there and leans against the cage.
Harding tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunderclap has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Harding is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thunderclap is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Harding stops a takedown attempt from Thunderclap.
Harding connects with a knee to the head.
Harding lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Harding escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thunderclap avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Harding lands a high kick!
Thunderclap swats away the attempt to clinch by Harding.
Thunderclap shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Harding as he avoids it easily.
Nice body kick from Harding.
Harding is looking to clinch but Thunderclap is avoiding it.
Harding tries to clinch up but Thunderclap circles away and keeps his distance.
Tank Thunderclap is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Harding gets caught flat footed, as Thunderclap shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Harding working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thunderclap.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thunderclap accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harding trying to keep a closed guard but Thunderclap is proving a slippery customer.
Thunderclap trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Thunderclap throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Harding works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Thunderclap trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Harding working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thunderclap.
Thunderclap forces his way into half guard.
Thunderclap not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Thunderclap shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Harding taking some punishment here, with Thunderclap in his half guard.
Thunderclap missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Thunderclap not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Thunderclap looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Harding is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harding blocking the ground and pound attempt from Thunderclap.
Harding wants to control but Thunderclap is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Clayton Harding showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tank Thunderclap's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Harding staying out of range there.
Harding wants to clinch up but Thunderclap keeps it at a distance.
Harding is looking to clinch but Thunderclap is avoiding it.
Thunderclap misses with an uppercut.
Harding fails with an attempt to clinch.
Harding displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Thunderclap.
Thunderclap fails with a takedown attempt.
Thunderclap attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Harding moves out of range as Thunderclap strikes.
Thunderclap circles away from the clinch attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thunderclap throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Thunderclap misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tank Thunderclap. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thunderclap swats away the attempt to clinch by Harding.
Thunderclap misses the jab.
Thunderclap throws a looping overhand right but Harding ducks down to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harding wants to clinch up but Thunderclap keeps it at a distance.
Harding tries to clinch but Thunderclap moves out of range.
Harding tries to clinch but Thunderclap is having none of it.
Harding stuffs the takedown.
Harding is looking to clinch but Thunderclap is avoiding it.
Thunderclap throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Harding is looking to clinch.
Harding gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Thunderclap counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Harding's guard now.
Thunderclap is working Harding over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Thunderclap makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Thunderclap thows a big elbow that misses.
Thunderclap lands a couple of decent looking shots.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thunderclap accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thunderclap with a flurry of punches that miss.
Harding utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Thunderclap pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Harding is keeping the position for now.
Thunderclap throwing strikes but missing.
Thunderclap has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Thunderclap throwing strikes from guard but Harding blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harding is trying to keep Thunderclap in close.
Thunderclap trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Harding closes the distance and clinches.
Harding with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Harding stops a takedown attempt from Thunderclap.
Harding prevents the takedown attempt.
Thunderclap has Harding pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Harding manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Thunderclap blocks the elbow strike.
Harding throws a knee to the head but misses.
Harding throws a knee to the head but misses.
Thunderclap is trying to drag Harding to the mat but Harding just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Thunderclap has Harding pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Harding manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

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.
Harding gets underhooks to prevent Thunderclap's takedown attempt.
Harding lands a damaging elbow.
Harding connects with a nasty looking knee right to Thunderclap's face.
Harding misses with a knee strike.

Harding's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Harding fails in his attempt to clinch.
Thunderclap throws a lazy right hand but Harding sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Harding doesn't manage to clinch there - Thunderclap circles away.
Thunderclap avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Harding wants to clinch

and Thunderclap counters with a single leg into guard. Harding didn't expect that.
Thunderclap postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Thunderclap working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Harding utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tank Thunderclap showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Thunderclap 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tank Thunderclap!