PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cross David (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Thunder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnny Thunder acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

David
vs
Thunder

180 cm
27
245 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

220 cm
30
257 lbs
15 - 12 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Cross David!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 12 - 0, fighting out of London, Johnny Thunder!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, William Gold and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
David moves in looking to clinch but Thunder pushes him off.
David blocks a head kick by Thunder.
Thunder waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract David.

David closes the distance and clinches.
David effectively controlling the action here.
David lands with a short head shot on the inside.
David just leaning against Thunder, taking a breather.

David turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
David working the head with strikes.

David is trying to get an arm triangle but Thunder is defending well.

David is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Thunder is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Thunder struggling a bit here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
David in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Thunder tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Thunder wants to control but David postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunder is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Thunder taking a bit of punishment here - David scoring with strikes.
Thunder is trying to get back to half guard.
David lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Thunder wants to control but David postures up.
Thunder gets back to half guard.
Thunder has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. David is working away from the top position though.
Thunder is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of David's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take David's back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Thunder working for a choke but David is defending well.
Thunder keeps control of the position as David tries to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thunder patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
You can see the frustration on David's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
David rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

David looking for submissions off his back.

Thunder wants to work for an arm triangle but David is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
David is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Thunder's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Thunder's back!
Oooh a big shot gets through from David. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thunder defends a prolonged rear naked choke attempt and turns nicely into his opponent's guard.
Thunder wants to control from the top but David keeps moving.
Thunder sitting in guard here, content to control.
Thunder sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed David's guard.
David wants to improve his position but Thunder is controlling well.
Thunder is taking a breather. David says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Thunder tries to pass the half guard into mount. David knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

David looking for submissions off his back.
David tries to roll over but Thunder keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Thunder wants to lay and pray for a moment but David keeps working.
Thunder throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
David might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Thunder is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so David is just riding it out for now. Thunder eventually gives up the hold.
Thunder works his way into side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thunder working away.

Thunder tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
David is looking to regain half guard here but Thunder keeps moving and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Thunder lands a head kick. David smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

David gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Thunder is trying to work for a single leg takedown but David pulls him back up using the underhooks.

David lands a takedown into guard.
Thunder is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Thunder pulls David in close to prevent any damage.

Thunder looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
David wants to control from the top but Thunder keeps moving.
Cross David overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
David working some strikes from top position.
David postures up and lands a big shot to Thunder's brow.
David wants to control from the top but Thunder keeps moving.
David is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunder seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
David working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
David trying to control the position from guard on top but Thunder is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thunder is controlling David's posture.
Thunder controls David momentarily but David frees himself.
David trying to control the position from guard on top but Thunder is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

David drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and David jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
David won't allow Thunder to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thunder pulls David in close to prevent any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
David keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thunder avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Thunder throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent David stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
David takes a swing at Thunder's ribcage but misses.
Thunder cracks a nice hook into David's ribs.
Thunder scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. David doesn't seem bothered though.
The fight stays on the outside here - David looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
David looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

David scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

David is trying to get an arm triangle but Thunder is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

David looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thunder manages to work his way to half guard, despite David's best efforts.
Thunder keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Thunder wants to get back to full guard.
Thunder is not content to let David control the position.
Thunder gets back to full guard.
David postures up.
David throwing strikes from guard but Thunder blocks nicely.
Thunder trying to keep a closed guard but David is proving a slippery customer.
Thunder is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

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.

Thunder throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! David escapes and throws Thunder's legs to the side, diving into side control!
David working the ground and pound but Thunder is defending the strikes.
David trying to control the action but Thunder is working from the bottom.
Thunder tries to get back to half guard but can't.

David tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

David looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cross David dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

A punch lands to the side of David 's head but he takes it in his stride.
David uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Thunder.
Thunder keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from David.

Thunder tries to keep at a distance but David has taken the fight into the clinch.
David lands a hook that snaps the head of Thunder backwards.
Thunder tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Thunder is looking for a takedown up against the cage. David gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

David wants the takedown. Thunder is fighting it off but David persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Thunder's guard against the cage.
Thunder is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Thunder looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
David pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thunder is keeping the position for now.
David lands a couple of elbows.
David throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunder trying to control the position.
Thunder has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Thunder looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
David trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Thunder manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
David wants to stand and escape but Thunder is having none of it.
Thunder preventing the sweep.
David controls Thunder momentarily but Thunder frees himself.
David is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Thunder is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Thunder distracts David with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
David keeping moving, preventing Thunder from controlling successfully.
Thunder works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Thunder is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Thunder.

Thunder is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so David is just riding it out for now. Thunder eventually gives up the hold.
David works his way to full guard. Good work.
Thunder takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Thunder wants to control from the top but David keeps moving.

David is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thunder won't allow David to sweep him here.
David not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
David looking for a sweep. Not yet David, not yet.
Thunder sitting in guard here, content to control.
Thunder trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
David is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Thunder postures up in David's guard and throws a big left but David blocks it.
David lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Thunder!
Thunder bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thunder pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. David is keeping the position for now.
Thunder sitting in guard here, content to control.
Thunder pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. David is keeping the position for now.
David controls Thunder momentarily but Thunder frees himself.
David wants to sweep but no luck.
Thunder passes into half guard.

Thunder is looking for a kimura here.
David is trying to control but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Johnny Thunder.
I think David 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 Steven Brown scores the fight for Cross David!
Judge William Gold scores the fight for Cross David!
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight for Cross David!

Cross David wins by unanimous decision!