PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kevin Handelman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Christian Thiele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Handelman might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to American Badass by Kid Rock. Thiele has chosen Why can´t we be friends as his entrance music. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Handelman
vs
Thiele

187 cm
23
190 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

187 cm
22
199 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Powerful

.: AFFAKETION :.
.: AFFAKETION :.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Kevin Handelman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Christian Thiele!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Richard Clark and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Handelman lands a right hook to the body.
Handelman dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Handelman connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Thiele momentarily.

Handelman clinches up with Thiele and pushes him back against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Handelman makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Thiele gets underhooks to prevent Handelman's takedown attempt.
Thiele being controlled against the cage.
Thiele is trying to drag Handelman to the mat but Handelman just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Handelman drops down looking for an ankle pick but Thiele pulls his leg out and moves away.
Nice defenses there by Thiele.
Thiele blocks a jab.
Handelman is looking to clinch.
Thiele throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Handelman stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Thiele shoots in for a takedown but Handelman shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Handelman keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thiele slips a straight right by Handelman.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thiele swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Thiele throws a body punch but Handelman moves out of range.
Handelman misses with a looping right.
Thiele blocks a jab.
Handelman throws a big shot that misses.
Kevin Handelman is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thiele swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Handelman misses with a wild body shot.
Thiele ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Handelman moves away.
Christian Thiele seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thiele moves out of range of the strikes.
Handelman scores with a shot to the body.
Thiele looks gassed!
Thiele misses with a wild body shot.
Handelman takes a swing at Thiele's ribcage but misses.
Handelman throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Handelman misses with a body shot.
Thiele lands a jab to the head.
A slow jab from Handelman misses its intended target.
Thiele is trying hard to land a takedown here. Handelman sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kevin Handelman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Christian Thiele.
Handelman misses the body punch

and Thiele counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Handelman is trying to stand.
Thiele not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Handelman on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Handelman tries to get out of the position.
Thiele sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Handelman defending well though.
Thiele missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Handelman is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Thiele not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Handelman tries to roll over but Thiele keeps him under control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Handelman avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Thiele.
Handelman is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Thiele winds up and cracks Handelman with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Handelman is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Thiele thows a huge punch but Handelman dodges it nicely.
Thiele looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Thiele lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Thiele looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Handelman is staying active underneath Thiele, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Handelman tries to kick Thiele off but Thiele keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Thiele is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Handelman trying to control here.
Thiele lands strikes from half guard.
Handelman won't allow Thiele to pass to mount.
Handelman avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Thiele.
Handelman tries to get to full guard but Thiele has control of the leg.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thiele lands strikes from half guard.
Handelman looks like he's trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kevin Handelman will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Thiele lands a two punch combo.

It looks like Kevin Handelman has been cut.

Thiele shoots in and bounces Handelman off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Handelman is looking to stand up but Thiele isn't so interested in that idea.
Thiele works over Handelman with some ground and pound from guard.
Handelman has momentary wrist control but Thiele slips an elbow through the middle.
Thiele slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Thiele wants to lay and pray for a moment but Handelman keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Handelman parries the strikes from Thiele easily there. Thiele is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Handelman to escape.
Thiele landing strikes.
Thiele tries to score with some ground and pound. Handelman controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Thiele scoring with punches and elbows.
Thiele wants to lay and pray for a moment but Handelman keeps working.
Handelman taking a bit of punishment here - Thiele scoring with strikes.
Handelman is looking for a sweep.
Handelman takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thiele trying to control the action but Handelman is working from the bottom.
Handelman is working to avoid the ground and pound but Thiele connects with a decent elbow.
Thiele is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Handelman will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Thiele wants to control but Handelman is keeping him busy.
Thiele working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Handelman can't do much from the bottom here.
Thiele wants to lay and pray for a moment but Handelman keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thiele lands a few punches from side control.
Thiele lands a decent elbow from side control.
Christian Thiele has got the better of the ground game so far.
Handelman is looking to regain half guard here but Thiele keeps moving and retains side control.
Thiele creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Thiele tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Thiele working the head and body with strikes.
Handelman gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thiele passes to full mount!
Thiele controlling from the full mount.
Thiele tries to control but Handelman wriggling away.
Handelman wants to control but Thiele is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thiele looking to finish Handelman with some ground and pound. This is bad for Handelman!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Thiele breaks from Handelman's wrist control and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Christian Thiele showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kevin Handelman's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Handelman misses the shot to the body.
Handelman ducks under a wild hook from Thiele.
Handelman swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Thiele.
Handelman keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Handelman keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Thiele.
Thiele throws a right and a left that both miss.
Thiele just misses with a punch to the body.
Kevin Handelman is winning the standup battle so far.
Handelman takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Handelman lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Thiele throws a body punch but Handelman moves out of range.
Thiele lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Thiele.

Kevin Handelman's cut is getting worse.
Thiele waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Handelman.
Thiele uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Handelman.
Handelman lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Thiele is rocked!
Thiele misses the shot to the body.
Handelman tries to clinch but Thiele moves out of range.
Thiele takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Thiele takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thiele on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Thiele is still on wobbly legs! Can Handelman finish him?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Handelman keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Thiele.
A big right from Handelman misses.
Handelman throws an uppercut from hell that sends Thiele clean off his feet! He's out cold! Handelman stands back and admires his work as he thinks about that KO of the night award that is surely being wrapped up for him back stage.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:16 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Kevin Handelman!