PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Faith Thatcher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wacko Warner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Faith Thatcher is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Thatcher
vs
Warner

155 cm
22
135 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

225 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Good elbows
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Faith Thatcher!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Wacko Warner!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Hugh Johnson and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thatcher throws a head kick but Warner moves out of range.
Warner looks for a takedown but Thatcher sprawls well.
Warner wants to clinch up but Thatcher keeps it at a distance.
Thatcher pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Thatcher throws a head kick but Warner moves out of range.
Warner is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Thatcher keeps the fight on the outside.

Warner has taken the fight to the clinch.

Warner breaks the clinch.
Warner blocks a head kick by Thatcher.

Thatcher shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Warner keeping full guard, as Thatcher tries to pass.
Thatcher has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Warner is proving hard to escape from.
Thatcher working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Thatcher has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Warner wriggles free and stands up.

Warner closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Warner wants to break the clinch but can't.
Thatcher throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Warner blocks it with crossed arms.
Thatcher using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Warner has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Thatcher looking to throw knees to the head but Warner is blocking nicely.
Thatcher looking to throw knees to the head but Warner is blocking nicely.
Thatcher misses with a knee to the head.
Warner wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Thatcher blocks an elbow strike from Warner.

Thatcher breaks the clinch.
Warner fails with an attempt to clinch.

Warner clinches up against the cage.
Warner swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Warner throws an elbow that misses.
Thatcher blocks an uppercut.
Warner throws an elbow but it misses.
Thatcher tries to land a knee to the head but Warner blocks with his arms.
Thatcher is breathing heavily.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Warner just misses with a elbow thrown towards Thatcher's brow.
Warner misses with a short punch on the inside.
Thatcher blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Warner throws an elbow that misses.
Thatcher tries to land a knee to the head but Warner blocks with his arms.
Thatcher throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Warner blocks it with crossed arms.
Thatcher wants to stall.
Warner swings wildly with an uppercut but Thatcher uses good head movement to avoid it.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Warner.
Thatcher misses with a knee to the head.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Warner just misses with a elbow thrown towards Thatcher's brow.
Thatcher tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Warner misses with a hook from the clinch.
Thatcher tries to land a knee to the head but Warner blocks with his arms.
Warner misses with an elbow over the top.
Warner is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

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.
Warner throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Thatcher blocks an elbow strike.
Thatcher with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Thatcher blocks an elbow strike.
Thatcher dodges an elbow strike from Warner.
Thatcher taking a breather.
Thatcher throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Warner blocks it with crossed arms.
Thatcher misses with a knee to the head.
Thatcher throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Warner blocks it with crossed arms.
Thatcher lands an elbow just above Warner 's eye.
Thatcher with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Thatcher tries a knee to the head but Warner blocks it.
Warner misses with an elbow strike.
Thatcher looking to throw knees to the head but Warner is blocking nicely.
Warner doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Thatcher throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Warner blocks it with crossed arms.
Warner throws an elbow but it misses.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Warner.
Thatcher dodges an elbow strike from Warner.
Thatcher misses with a knee to the head.
Warner is looking to break free of the clinch but Thatcher has double underhooks.
Warner working aggressively here.
Thatcher tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Warner throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Warner.

Thatcher has clasped his hands together around Warner's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thatcher lands an elbow.
Warner prevents Thatcher from improving position.
Warner wants to control but Thatcher postures up.
Thatcher working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Thatcher.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thatcher wants to stand but Warner has his arm trapped.
Warner defending against the ground and pound.
Thatcher lands some shots froms side control.
Thatcher with the ground and pound but Warner regains half guard under the barage of strikes.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Warner tries to clinch but Thatcher is having none of it.
Thatcher tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Thatcher throws a sloppy head kick and Warner moves out of range easily.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Thatcher tries a head kick but it misses.
Warner fails in his attempt to clinch.
Thatcher throws a sloppy head kick and Warner moves out of range easily.
Warner tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Warner is looking to clinch but Thatcher is avoiding it.
Thatcher tests Warner's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Warner is rocked!

It looks like Wacko Warner has been cut.
Thatcher throws a head kick but Warner moves out of range.
Warner is still on wobbly legs! Can Thatcher finish him?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thatcher pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Thatcher misses with a head kick.

Thatcher shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Thatcher throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Warner regains half guard.
Thatcher working the head and body with strikes.
Warner wants to control but Thatcher is keeping busy.
Warner wants to improve his position but Thatcher is controlling well.
Warner is trying to maintain the position but Thatcher is very close to passing his half guard.
Warner seems to have recovered his senses.
Warner tries to roll over but Thatcher keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Faith Thatcher dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Wacko Warner's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Thatcher tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Warner blocks a head kick by Thatcher.
Wacko Warner is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thatcher misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Thatcher tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Warner.
Thatcher pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Thatcher shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Poor strikes thrown by Thatcher there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Thatcher throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Warner because Thatcher loaded up on that one.
Warner is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Thatcher scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Warner?
Warner is trying desperately to improve position.
Warner is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thatcher looking to finish with strikes here!
Warner regains half guard.
Warner regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Thatcher.

Thatcher stands up from Warner's guard - Thatcher perhaps looking for a knockout.
Thatcher throws a head kick but Warner moves out of range.
Thatcher tries a head kick but it misses.
Warner takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Thatcher misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Thatcher pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Thatcher pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Warner closes the distance and clinches.

Thatcher escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Warner blocks a head kick by Thatcher.
Faith Thatcher seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Thatcher closes the distance and clinches.

Thatcher breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thatcher just misses with a punch to the body.
Thatcher swings for the body but Warner moves out of range.
Thatcher pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Thatcher throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Warner is looking to clinch.
Thatcher misses with a head kick.
Thatcher tries a head kick but it misses.
Some bone on bone action there as Thatcher checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Thatcher tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Thatcher checks a leg kick.
A head kick misses from Thatcher.
Thatcher throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Thatcher fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Warner is out of range.
Thatcher misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Thatcher throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Thatcher is looking to clinch but Warner is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Warner looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Warner throws out a leg kick but Thatcher moves out of range and Warner only half commits.
Warner avoids the head kick by Thatcher.
Warner avoids the head kick by Thatcher.
Thatcher tries to clinch but Warner is having none of it.
Warner fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Thatcher tries to close the distance and clinch up but Warner swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Warner is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Warner is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Thatcher tries a head kick but it misses.
Warner fails with an attempt to clinch.
Thatcher throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Thatcher pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Warner clinches.

Thatcher breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thatcher pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Warner moves in looking to clinch but Thatcher pushes him off.
Thatcher pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four 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.
A big right from Thatcher misses.
Thatcher throws a head kick that misses.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Warner.
Faith Thatcher has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wacko Warner.
Thatcher throws a sloppy head kick and Warner moves out of range easily.
Thatcher moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Thatcher throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Thatcher misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Warner tries to clinch up but Thatcher circles away and keeps his distance.
Thatcher pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Warner drives through and clinches with Thatcher against the cage.
Thatcher tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Warner creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Thatcher blocking some punches.
Warner looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Warner.
Warner looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Thatcher throws a knee to the head but misses.
Thatcher using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Warner has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
With the fighters up against the cage, Warner throws an elbow but misses.
Warner wants to break free but Thatcher has control.
Thatcher blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Thatcher throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Warner blocks it with crossed arms.
Thatcher tries to land a knee to the head but Warner blocks with his arms.
Warner lands an elbow inside.
Warner throws a punch but it's blocked by Thatcher.
Thatcher wants to stall.
Warner creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Faith Thatcher dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Wacko Warner's cut.
That's time! Thatcher's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Thatcher pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Warner rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Thatcher moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Warner tries to clinch
and Thatcher counters with a straight right hand.
Warner wants to clinch

and Thatcher counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Warner's guard now.
Warner is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Thatcher would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Warner doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Warner wants to stand up but Thatcher is controlling him.
Thatcher throwing strikes from guard but Warner blocks nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Warner looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thatcher trying to control but Warner is working from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Thatcher misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Warner blocks a head kick by Thatcher.

Warner closes the distance and clinches.
Warner misses with an elbow strike.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Thatcher has hold of one of Warner's legs. Warner is fighting the takedown attempt but Thatcher gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Warner is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Thatcher would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Thatcher stands up from Warner's guard - Thatcher perhaps looking for a knockout.
Thatcher with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thatcher tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Warner avoids the head kick by Thatcher.
Warner checks a leg kick nicely.
Thatcher misses with a hook.
Thatcher throws a head kick that misses.
Thatcher pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Thatcher throws a sloppy head kick and Warner moves out of range easily.
Thatcher misses with a head kick.
Warner avoids the head kick by Thatcher.
Warner darts in trying to clinch

and Thatcher counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Warner's guard now.
Faith Thatcher overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!

Warner scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Thatcher misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Thatcher tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick misses from Thatcher.
Warner is looking to clinch.
Thatcher misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thatcher tries a head kick but it misses.
Thatcher misses with a head kick.
Thatcher tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Warner wants to clinch.
A head kick misses from Thatcher.
Warner avoids the head kick by Thatcher.
Thatcher tries a head kick but it misses.
Thatcher looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Warner is fending him off so far but Thatcher persists. Nope, Warner circles away and we're back to standing.
Thatcher tries a head kick but it misses.
Warner tries to clinch but Thatcher is having none of it.
Warner shoots in for a takedown but Thatcher shows good takedown defense.
Warner shoots for a takedown but Thatcher saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Thatcher ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Warner moves away.

Warner closes the distance and clinches.
Thatcher looking to throw knees to the head but Warner is blocking nicely.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Warner just misses with a elbow thrown towards Thatcher's brow.
Thatcher avoiding damage.
Warner misses with an elbow over the top.
Thatcher lands a knee to the body.
Thatcher tries to land a knee to the head but Warner blocks with his arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Warner is trying to break the clinch but Thatcher has him pressed against the cage.
Thatcher blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Warner wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Thatcher has him pressed against the cage.
Thatcher using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Warner has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A head punch on the inside from Warner fails to land.
Warner creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Thatcher with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Warner has had enough of the clinch but Thatcher keeps him there for the moment.
Warner working aggressively here.
Thatcher blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Warner fails to land.

Thatcher breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thatcher pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Thatcher pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Thatcher throws a head kick that misses.
Thatcher misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Warner tries to clinch up but Thatcher circles away and keeps his distance.
Warner misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Faith Thatcher has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wacko Warner.
Thatcher avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Warner blocks a head kick by Thatcher.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thatcher throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Warner tries to clinch up but Thatcher circles away and keeps his distance.
Thatcher throws a head kick but Warner moves out of range.
Wacko Warner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Warner tries to land a front kick but Thatcher steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Thatcher tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Faith Thatcher showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Thatcher, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Faith Thatcher!