PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Elliot Hart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Thacker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hart is coming into this fight with a significant injury, which will no doubt have an effect on his cardio. Elliot Hart has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hart
vs
Thacker

176 cm
20
160 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Elliot Hart!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, James Thacker !
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Paul Tew and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thacker takes the fight into the clinch.
Hart is breathing heavily.

Thacker tightens his grip and picks Hart up, before dumping him to the ground. Hart manages to land in guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Hart keeping full guard, as Thacker tries to pass.
Thacker must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Thacker would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Thacker engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Thacker wants to pass the guard but Hart is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thacker is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Thacker trying to stand up but can't free himself from Hart's guard.
Hart is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up. James Thacker was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Thacker shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Thacker was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hart is in all sorts of trouble here.
Thacker tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thacker looking to finish with strikes here!
Thacker controlling the position easily from mount.
Thacker throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hart can't escape the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hart wants to control but Thacker is having none of it.
Hart is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Thacker looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thacker 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.
Thacker avoids the attempt from Hart to control.
Thacker sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Thacker looking to control and managing it successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Poor strikes thrown by Thacker there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Thacker dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Elliot Hart's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Thacker throws a series of strikes that have Hart backpedaling.

Thacker fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Hart sprawls well initially but Thacker persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Thacker controlling the pace.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thacker slips a nice elbow through Hart's hands, connecting with Hart's forehead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thacker looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

OK we're going to have a standup here. James Thacker hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Thacker throws a combination. Hart tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
A right-left combo lands from Thacker .

Thacker closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Hart's guard.
Hart not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Hart looking for a guillotine here but Thacker defends easily.

Hart escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Thacker gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Thacker really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hart. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thacker controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Thacker is looking to work some ground and pound but Hart has wrist control.
Hart wants to sweep here but Thacker controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hart looking for a guillotine here but Thacker defends easily.
Hart keeping moving, preventing Thacker from controlling successfully.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by James Thacker .
Hart misses with a takedown attempt
and Thacker counters with a nice body kick.
Thacker is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Thacker forces Hart back against the cage and clinches.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hart wants to control from the top but Thacker keeps moving.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Thacker looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thacker being controlled here, momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Thacker showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Elliot Hart's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! 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.

Thacker darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Thacker passes to full mount!
Thacker controlling from the full mount.

Thacker has control of Hart's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Hart regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thacker working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Hart wants to hold on but Thacker pushes him away.
Thacker controlling from mount.
Thacker avoids the attempt from Hart to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Thacker there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Thacker is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Hart wants to control but Thacker is having none of it.
Hart tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hart is working hard here to advance position.
Thacker throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Hart because Thacker loaded up on that one.
Hart is just holding on here. Thacker manages to take his back.
Thacker misses with a punch to the head.
Thacker throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Thacker keeps control of the position as Hart tries to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Hart has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Thacker .
Thacker has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Hart's body.
Hart wants to control his opponent's hands but Thacker gets his hands free.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Thacker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Thacker has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Thacker !