PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thor Armstrong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gumby Pokey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Armstrong
vs
Pokey

180 cm
23
220 lbs
5 - 13 - 0

185 cm
29
210 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Thor Armstrong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gumby Pokey!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pokey fails to land the takedown.
Pokey misses with an uppercut

and Armstrong counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Armstrong.

Armstrong has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Pokey clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Armstrong trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Pokey doesn't escape.
Pokey turns into Armstrong and is now in his guard.
Pokey seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Pokey would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Pokey throws a big elbow that misses.
Armstrong wants to stand but Pokey is controlling the position.
Pokey stays in close to Armstrong's body and controls the position.
Armstrong not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Pokey throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Armstrong's waist but Armstrong gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Pokey off to one side.

Armstrong fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Pokey to the ground. Armstrong is now in Pokey's guard.
Armstrong trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Armstrong sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Pokey is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Pokey looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Pokey is adopting a defensive guard.
Armstrong wants to control from the top but Pokey keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Armstrong not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Thor Armstrong.

Pokey gets tackled into the cage by Armstrong. Armstrong maintains the clinch.
Pokey is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Armstrong gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Thor Armstrong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gumby Pokey.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Armstrong gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pokey wants to get back to full guard.
Armstrong trying to control from half guard but Pokey is working away.

Armstrong wants to work for an arm triangle but Pokey is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Armstrong is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pokey wants to get back to his feet.
Armstrong is trying to control the action in half guard but Pokey is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Armstrong decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Armstrong throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Pokey tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Armstrong is in Pokey's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Armstrong accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Armstrong trying to control but Pokey is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong is really struggling to control Pokey but he's trying to hold on to the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Armstrong throwing strikes from guard but Pokey blocks nicely.
Armstrong wants to get up but he can't break Pokey's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Thor Armstrong just wasn't active enough.

Armstrong gets a clinch.
Armstrong slowing the pace effectively.
Armstrong using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Pokey looks gassed!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pokey is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Armstrong is defending well.

Armstrong manages to pull guard.
Pokey throws a strike but Armstrong rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Pokey utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Armstrong darts in and clinches Pokey up against the cage.
Armstrong tries to throw a body punch but Pokey avoids it by throwing Armstrong back against the cage.
Pokey tries to pull guard but Armstrong holds him up against the cage and eventually Pokey drops back down to his feet.
Pokey is looking to take this one to the mat.

Armstrong gets control of Pokey's arms and successfully pulls guard. Armstrong will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Pokey thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Pokey content to stall in guard here.

Pokey 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.

Armstrong is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Pokey wants to control from the top but Armstrong keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armstrong looking to control.
Armstrong wants to sweep here but Pokey controlling him for the moment.
Armstrong tries to strike from the bottom.
Armstrong 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.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Pokey thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Pokey drops back looking for a leg! Armstrong is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Armstrong manages to kick Pokey off! Pokey jumps back into Armstrong's guard.
Pokey is breathing heavily.
Armstrong keeping moving, preventing Pokey from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pokey postures up.
Armstrong pulls Pokey in close to prevent any damage.
Armstrong tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Pokey sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Thor Armstrong.
Pokey shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Thor Armstrong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gumby Pokey.

Armstrong throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Pokey tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Armstrong is in Pokey's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Armstrong missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Armstrong throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Pokey is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Pokey blocking the ground and pound attempt from Armstrong.
Pokey is looking for a sweep. Armstrong is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Armstrong is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Armstrong not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pokey is trying to control but can't.
Armstrong throwing shots but Pokey is blocking nicely.
Pokey trying to control here.
Pokey is positioning himself well to prevent Armstrong advancing to mount.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Armstrong trying to control the action but Pokey is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

We're going to have a standup here because Thor Armstrong wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Armstrong scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Pokey is looking to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thor Armstrong dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Pokey waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Armstrong.

Pokey closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Armstrong to the mat! Armstrong manages to get full guard.
Armstrong lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Pokey!

Armstrong working for a guillotine from mount but Pokey is in no mood to give up.
Armstrong thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Armstrong looking to control but Pokey is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Armstrong putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Pokey is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pokey keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Pokey is squirming around, avoiding Armstrong's attempts to control the action.
Pokey is bucking up trying to escape but Armstrong cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Pokey takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Armstrong breaks from Pokey's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Pokey sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Armstrong blocks the strikes from Pokey.
Pokey is not content to let Armstrong control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pokey kicks Armstrong off and gets back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Armstrong tries to close the distance and clinch but Pokey swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pokey circles away from the clinch attempt.
Pokey throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Armstrong paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Armstrong gets a takedown into half guard.
Pokey is trying to stand back up but Armstrong is controlling him
Armstrong not doing much here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Armstrong is working for a submission of some sort.
Pokey is looking for a sweep. Armstrong is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Armstrong wants to get back to his feet.
Pokey is holding on to half guard well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pokey wants to improve his position but Armstrong is controlling well.

Armstrong is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Gumby Pokey has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Armstrong seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Thor Armstrong is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Pokey actively working from the bottom here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thor Armstrong showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Armstrong has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thor Armstrong!
A less than humble Thor Armstrong misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.