PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Igor Nabeatu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Thunder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Nabeatu might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Era - Enae Volare Mezzo. Johnny Thunder has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Igor Nabeatu's chin.

Nabeatu
vs
Thunder

190 cm
20
252 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

220 cm
29
257 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Elite Golden 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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Igor Nabeatu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Johnny Thunder!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, James Glass and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thunder shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nabeatu as he jumps to the side.
Thunder slips a jab and a cross from Nabeatu.
Nabeatu swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Thunder is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
No joy there for Nabeatu, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Thunder will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nabeatu misses the jab.
Thunder dives in and grabs Nabeatu's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nabeatu pushes down on Thunder's head and hops out.
Igor Nabeatu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnny Thunder.
Nabeatu misses with a body shot.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Thunder is defended easily by Nabeatu.
Nabeatu misses with a jab, cross combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thunder avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nabeatu looks to land a combination but Thunder avoids it well.
Nabeatu fails to land with a series of punches.
Thunder looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Nabeatu is fending him off so far but Thunder persists. Nope, Nabeatu circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunder misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Thunder.

Thunder shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Nabeatu is trying to defend but Thunder finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Nabeatu is trying to stand back up but Thunder is controlling him

Thunder is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Nabeatu might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Thunder prevents Nabeatu from improving his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nabeatu is trying to stand up here but Thunder is controlling him well.

Thunder is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nabeatu pushes Thunder off looking to stand but Thunder dives back in and keeps control.
Thunder is thwarting Nabeatu's attempts to control the position.
Thunder is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

Thunder has control of Nabeatu's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Nabeatu regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Nabeatu is wriggling around trying to escape.
Nabeatu flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Thunder trying to control but Nabeatu is having none of it.
Nabeatu is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nabeatu is wriggling around trying to escape.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Thunder scoring with strikes but Nabeatu is staying in there.
Nabeatu is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Thunder swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Nabeatu is now in Thunder's guard. A big mistake from Thunder there, giving up the dominant position!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Thunder working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Nabeatu doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Nabeatu manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Thunder trying to control the position.
Nabeatu looking to pass the guard.
Nabeatu tries to stand but Thunder is controlling from the bottom.
Nabeatu trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thunder had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nabeatu defends it easily.

Nabeatu stands up and waves to Thunder to follow him.
Nabeatu throws a head kick that misses.
Thunder shoots in and drives through. Nabeatu sprawls well.
Nabeatu leaves Thunder with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nabeatu swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nabeatu throws a hook but Thunder blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Thunder dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nabeatu slaps away a takedown attempt from Thunder, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nabeatu throws a series of punches but Thunder moves out of range.
Nabeatu swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Thunder fails with a takedown attempt.
Thunder closes the distance and clinches up with Nabeatu, looking for a takedown. Thunder pushes Nabeatu against the cage but Nabeatu circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Igor Nabeatu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnny Thunder.
Nabeatu throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Thunder fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nabeatu missing with a left hand there. Thunder was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Thunder closes the distance and clinches up with Nabeatu, looking for a takedown. Thunder pushes Nabeatu against the cage but Nabeatu circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nabeatu stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nabeatu wants it to stay on the feet.
Thunder avoids a punch combination nicely.
Thunder showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Nabeatu.
Johnny Thunder seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunder fails to land the takedown.
Thunder is breathing heavily.
Thunder changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Nabeatu tries to avoid it but Thunder manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Nabeatu to the ground. Nabeatu escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Thunder changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Nabeatu looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Thunder landing a few strikes.
Nabeatu manages to get back to half guard.
Thunder wants to take a breather but Nabeatu is having none of it.
Nabeatu looks like he's trying to stand up.

Thunder seems to be looking for submissions.

Nabeatu is defending against the submission attempts here by Thunder.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nabeatu looks like he's trying to stand up.
Thunder not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Thunder prevents Nabeatu from standing back up.
Thunder lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Thunder works his way into side control.

Thunder working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Nabeatu is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Thunder is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nabeatu sneaks back into half guard.
Nabeatu is pressing down on Thunder's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Thunder is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Nabeatu keeping full guard, as Thunder tries to pass.
Thunder trying to control but Nabeatu is working from the bottom.
Thunder stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nabeatu swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Thunder won't allow Nabeatu to get back to his feet.

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.
Thunder postures up in Nabeatu's guard and throws a big left but Nabeatu blocks it.
Nabeatu is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Thunder drops back looking for a leg! Nabeatu is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Nabeatu manages to kick Thunder off! Thunder jumps back into Nabeatu's guard.
Nabeatu wants to stand up but Thunder is controlling him.

Thunder avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Nabeatu throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

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

Thunder drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Thunder jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Thunder showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Thunder looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nabeatu looks to score with a jab to the body but Thunder is just out of range.
Thunder takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Thunder.
Igor Nabeatu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nabeatu misses with a series of wild punches.
Thunder shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nabeatu pinned against the cage. Nabeatu gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Igor Nabeatu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnny Thunder.
Nabeatu defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Thunder.
Thunder takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A lazy left from Nabeatu finds it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunder fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Thunder fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Nabeatu. No joy for Thunder on that attempt.
Nabeatu will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Thunder throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Nabeatu's waist but Nabeatu gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Thunder off to one side.
Nabeatu misses with a two punch combination.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Thunder.
Nabeatu misses with a few strikes there.
Nabeatu looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Thunder changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Nabeatu tries to avoid it but Thunder manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Nabeatu to the ground. Nabeatu escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nabeatu throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Nabeatu tries to bum rush Thunder with a series of wild strikes but Thunder uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nabeatu misses with a straight right.
Thunder fails to land the takedown.
A solid leg kick lands there for Nabeatu.
Nabeatu misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Igor Nabeatu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nabeatu misses with a jab, cross combination.
Thunder shoots in and drives through. Nabeatu sprawls well.
Nabeatu throws a series of punches but Thunder moves out of range.
Nabeatu misses with a two punch combination.
Nabeatu stuffs the takedown attempt from Thunder. Thunder gets slowly back to his feet.
A head kick misses from Nabeatu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thunder shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Nabeatu keeping full guard, as Thunder tries to pass.
Thunder trying to control but Nabeatu is working from the bottom.
Thunder won't allow Nabeatu to get back to his feet.

Nabeatu wriggles free and stands up.
Thunder fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Nabeatu avoids it really well and circles away.
Nabeatu throws a head kick but Thunder moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thunder shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nabeatu throws a series of punches but Thunder avoids them all with ease.
An inside leg kick lands from Nabeatu.
No luck for Thunder with that takedown attempt.
Nabeatu throws a right and a left that both miss.
Thunder tries for a takedown but Nabeatu sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nabeatu looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Igor Nabeatu is winning the standup battle so far.
Nabeatu misses with a wild combination.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Thunder scores with a takedown into Nabeatu's guard.
Nabeatu wants to hit a switch here but Thunder passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Nabeatu there!

And that's the end of the fight!
Igor Nabeatu showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Thunder has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight for Igor Nabeatu!
Judge James Glass scores the fight for Igor Nabeatu!
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight for Igor Nabeatu!

Igor Nabeatu wins by unanimous decision!