PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rolf Thorkildsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Andersson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thorkildsen comes to the cage accompanied by AC/DC - Hell's Bells. Rolf Thorkildsen could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Frank Andersson's chin.

Thorkildsen
vs
Andersson

176 cm
26
165 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

186 cm
20
160 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rolf Thorkildsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Frank Andersson!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Andersson looks to throw the jab but Thorkildsen is out of range.
Thorkildsen digs a good hook to Andersson's body.
Thorkildsen throws a leg kick but Andersson sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Thorkildsen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Thorkildsen looking to pass the guard.
Thorkildsen is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Andersson wants to sweep here but Thorkildsen controlling him for the moment.
Andersson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Thorkildsen trying to control but Andersson is working from the bottom.
Thorkildsen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Thorkildsen postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thorkildsen is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Andersson controls Thorkildsen momentarily but Thorkildsen frees himself.
Andersson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Thorkildsen sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Andersson's guard.
Andersson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Thorkildsen is looking to advance position but Andersson won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nice strikes from Thorkildsen there.

Thorkildsen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Thorkildsen is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Andersson!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Andersson is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Thorkildsen raining down shots from the mount!
Andersson wants to hold on but Thorkildsen pushes him away.

Thorkildsen looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Andersson holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Thorkildsen tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Thorkildsen thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Thorkildsen thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Andersson wants to control but Thorkildsen is having none of it.
Andersson tries to reverse the position but Thorkildsen maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Andersson holds on for dear life, controlling Thorkildsen's posture momentarily.
Andersson wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Thorkildsen.
Andersson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Thorkildsen blocks Andersson's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Andersson wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Thorkildsen.
Andersson blocking the ground and pound.
Thorkildsen thowing shots but they're missing.

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.
Andersson is working to get back to half guard.
Thorkildsen throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Andersson controls the position.
Thorkildsen misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Thorkildsen landing strikes, looking to finish!
Andersson gets back to half guard.
Andersson is looking for a sweep. Thorkildsen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Thorkildsen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Andersson is looking to improve his position.
Thorkildsen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rolf Thorkildsen dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Thorkildsen with a nice cross.
Andersson throws a shot from downtown. Thorkildsen moves away and avoids it.
Thorkildsen missing with a left hand there. Andersson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Thorkildsen.
Thorkildsen blocks a jab.
Thorkildsen loads up on a big right hand but Andersson slips the punch.

Thorkildsen shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Andersson manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Andersson looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Andersson keeping moving, preventing Thorkildsen from controlling successfully.
Thorkildsen lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Thorkildsen trying to control the position from guard on top but Andersson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thorkildsen won't allow Andersson to sweep him here.
Thorkildsen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Andersson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Thorkildsen lands a couple of digs.
Thorkildsen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Thorkildsen trying to control but Andersson is working from the bottom.
Andersson wants to sweep here but Thorkildsen controlling him for the moment.
Thorkildsen tries to free his leg and advance position but Andersson is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Andersson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Andersson wants to sweep here but Thorkildsen controlling him for the moment.
Thorkildsen wants to pass the guard but Andersson is keeping the position.
Andersson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Thorkildsen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Andersson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Thorkildsen is one step ahead there.
Andersson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thorkildsen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thorkildsen throws a big right hand that misses.
Andersson controlling the position.
Thorkildsen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Thorkildsen drops back looking for a leg! Andersson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Andersson manages to kick Thorkildsen off! Thorkildsen jumps back into Andersson's guard.
Thorkildsen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Andersson is pulling down on Thorkildsen's head. It's preventing any offense from Thorkildsen, at least for the moment.
Andersson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Thorkildsen is one step ahead there.

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.
Thorkildsen is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Andersson has momentary wrist control but Thorkildsen slips an elbow through the middle.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Andersson is on top in guard.

Thorkildsen isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Andersson stacks Thorkildsen on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Andersson!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Thorkildsen is looking to regain half guard here but Andersson keeps moving and retains side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Andersson stands up and we're back to a striking position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rolf Thorkildsen dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Thorkildsen throws a looping overhand right but Andersson ducks down to avoid it.
Thorkildsen's corner calls for a 1-2. Thorkildsen obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Thorkildsen throws an overhand right that lands on Andersson's shoulder, as Andersson tries to avoid the shot.
Andersson fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Thorkildsen has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Andersson tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Thorkildsen shoots in but Andersson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Thorkildsen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Andersson throws out the jab.
Andersson keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Donk. Thorkildsen catches Andersson right on the button with a cross.
Thorkildsen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Andersson.
Thorkildsen gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Thorkildsen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Andersson.
Thorkildsen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Andersson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Thorkildsen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Thorkildsen shoots in for a takedown but Andersson shows good takedown defense.
Andersson loads up on a big right hand but Thorkildsen slips the punch.
Andersson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Thorkildsen shoots in for a takedown but Andersson shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rolf Thorkildsen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Andersson avoids the body shot from Thorkildsen.
Thorkildsen takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Andersson walks into a straight right hand from Thorkildsen.
Thorkildsen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rolf Thorkildsen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Some bone on bone action there as Andersson checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Thorkildsen looks to throw the jab but Andersson is out of range.
Andersson misses with a body shot.
Thorkildsen loads up on a big right hand but Andersson slips the punch.
Andersson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thorkildsen.
Andersson defending well as Thorkildsen loads up on a big left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Good shot there by Andersson.
Thorkildsen staying out of range there.
Andersson fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Thorkildsen on the side of the head.
Andersson throws a good cross that connects.
Thorkildsen staying out of range there.
A big right from Thorkildsen misses.
Thorkildsen throws a right and a left that both miss.
Thorkildsen throws out a loose jab but Andersson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Thorkildsen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Andersson circles away quickly and effectively.
Thorkildsen moves away from the strike by Andersson.
Andersson connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Thorkildsen momentarily.
Andersson lands the left hand.
Thorkildsen scores with a hook to the body. Andersson takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Andersson slaps away a takedown attempt from Thorkildsen, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A big right from Andersson misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot by Thorkildsen.
Thorkildsen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Andersson.
Andersson connects with a good right hand that stumbles Thorkildsen. Thorkildsen circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Andersson throws a jab when Thorkildsen was well out of range.
Andersson looks to land a left hand but Thorkildsen moved out of range nicely.
Andersson scores with a jab to the body.
Andersson might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Andersson fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Andersson misses with a leg kick.
Thorkildsen throws a low kick, looking for Andersson's leg but Andersson calmly moves out of range.
Thorkildsen throws a shot from downtown. Andersson moves away and avoids it.
Nice uppercut there from Andersson.

It looks like Rolf Thorkildsen has been cut.
Thorkildsen misses with a hook.
Andersson throws a jab when Thorkildsen was well out of range.
Good work by Andersson as he checks the leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thorkildsen misses with a wild body shot.
Thorkildsen throws a leg kick but Andersson moved away.
Andersson scores with a jab to the jaw.
Thorkildsen connects with the punch.
Thorkildsen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Frank Andersson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thorkildsen throws the left hand but Andersson avoids the punch easily.
Thorkildsen ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Andersson lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Thorkildsen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Andersson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Thorkildsen.
Andersson throws an overhand right that lands on Thorkildsen's shoulder, as Thorkildsen tries to avoid the shot.
A big left from Thorkildsen misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Andersson takes a swing at Thorkildsen's ribcage but misses.
Andersson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thorkildsen moves away.
Thorkildsen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank Andersson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Thorkildsen 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rolf Thorkildsen!