PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Foster (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thunder Lightning (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thunder Lightning has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Foster
vs
Lightning

188 cm
21
225 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

225 cm
19
260 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

FIGHT19: FIGHTWEAR

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Foster!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thunder Lightning!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Stewart Dunkirk and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Foster closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Foster scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Lightning to see if he's OK.

Foster is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Lightning knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Foster scoring with punches from side control.
Foster is putting a hurting on Lightning here, landing some big shots from side control.
Foster laying and praying for a moment but Lightning takes advantage and regains half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Foster seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lightning does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Foster lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Foster blocks the strikes from Lightning.
Foster sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lightning defending well though.
Foster winds up and cracks Lightning with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Foster is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Foster missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Foster working Lightning over with strikes.
Lightning avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Foster.
Lightning taking some punishment here, with Foster in his half guard.
Lightning is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Lightning wants to control but Foster is keeping busy.
Foster trying to control from Lightning's half guard. Lightning has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

Lightning escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Foster gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Foster works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Foster looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Lightning is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Foster is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Foster looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Foster is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Lightning missing with punches from the bottom.
Lightning manages to get to full guard.
Lightning looks gassed!
Foster stands up over Lightning, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Foster thows a big elbow that misses.
Foster distracts Lightning with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Foster slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Foster cracks Lightning with an elbow. That is naaassty.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lightning is not content to let Foster control the position.
Foster creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
You can see the frustration on Lightning's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Foster has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Foster landing a few strikes.
Lightning is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Foster connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Lightning some visible discomfort.
Lightning is trying to get back to half guard.
Foster lands a nice forearm strike.
Lightning is not content to let Foster control the position.
Lightning tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Foster wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Foster scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Lightning to see if he's OK.
Lightning manages to get back to half guard.
Lightning wants to improve his position but Foster is controlling well.

Lightning manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Foster showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lightning.
Lightning doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Foster counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Lightning pulls Foster in close to his closed guard and prevents Foster from doing any damage or advancing position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lightning trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Foster dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Lightning fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Foster on the side of the head.
Lightning closes the distance but Foster moves to the side

and Foster counters with a nice double leg into side control. Lightning won't be happy with that.
Lightning takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Foster lands a nice forearm strike.
Foster lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Lightning down.
Foster in side control lands a decent elbow.
James Foster overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Foster lands an elbow.
Lightning tries to bench press Foster off him but Foster keeps the position.
Foster working the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Foster landing strikes.
Lightning takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Foster working the body and head with strikes.
Lightning is breathing heavily.
Foster wants to control but Lightning is keeping him busy.
Foster scoring with punches and elbows.
Lightning is not content to let Foster control the position.
Lightning is looking for a sweep.
Lightning sneaks back into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Foster slips a nice elbow through Lightning's hands, connecting with Lightning's forehead.
Foster is tying to control. Lightning wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Foster winds up and cracks Lightning with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Foster scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Lightning tries to get to full guard but Foster has control of the leg.
Foster working over Lightning with some ground and pound. Lightning looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Foster lands a nice short elbow.
Lightning is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Foster scores with a couple of nice shots.
Lightning wants to control but Foster is keeping busy.
Lightning tries to roll over but Foster keeps him under control.
Lightning wants to get back to his feet.
Lightning keeping hold of Foster's head, controlling as best he can.
Lightning tries to roll over but Foster keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Foster is pressing down on Lightning's thigh, looking to free his foot. Lightning is holding on for now.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Lightning tries for a takedown but Foster circles away easily

and Foster counters with a takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Lightning's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Foster scoring with punches from side control.
Lightning is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Foster off and has taken his back!
Will Lightning go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Foster tries to escape the position.

Lightning has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Foster trying to get back to his feet but Lightning is in full control for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Foster turns into Lightning and is now in his guard.

Lightning looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Foster gets to his feet. Lightning looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Thunder Lightning is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lightning shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Foster counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
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!
Lightning trying to control here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Foster trying to control the action but Lightning is working from the bottom.
Foster tries to pass to full mount but Lightning defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Foster dominated that second round.
That's time! Foster's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Foster closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Foster lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Foster lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Lightning is trying to get back to full guard.
Nice strikes from Foster there.
Foster landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Lightning wants to get back to full guard.

Lightning actively working from the bottom here.
Lightning takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Foster lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lightning trying to control here.
Foster working Lightning over with strikes.
Lightning makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Lightning.
Lightning throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Foster cracks Lightning with a solid left hand.
Foster scoring with some ground and pound.
Foster stands and throws Lightning's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Foster landing strikes.
Foster lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Lightning down.
Foster working the ground and pound from side control.
Lightning parries the strikes from Foster easily there. Foster is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Lightning to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lightning is trying to improve his position.
Lightning is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Lightning moves into full guard.
Lightning is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lightning is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Foster cracks Lightning with a solid left hand.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Foster's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Foster postures up in Lightning's guard and throws a big left but Lightning blocks it.
Foster looking to pass the guard.
Foster is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lightning can do to turn this around?
Lightning is trying to control the position but Foster postures up.

Lightning has his foot on Foster's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Foster works his way back into a safe position though.
Lightning looking to hit a scissor sweep but Foster is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Foster makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Lightning looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Foster working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Lightning will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Lightning pulls Foster in close to prevent any damage.
Lightning is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lightning has control of Foster's left arm, preventing Foster from doing any damage.

Lightning scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Lightning instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lightning fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Foster prevents the takedown attempt.

Lightning manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Foster trying to control the position from guard on top but Lightning is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lightning is trying to control the position but Foster postures up.

Foster is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Lightning has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Foster is looking to defend but Lightning has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Foster! Lightning pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Foster taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Thunder Lightning!