PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rousimar Palhares Skywalker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hank Lunde (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Lunde's choice of entrance music: Time to say goodbye. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Palhares Skywalker
vs
Lunde

185 cm
29
249 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

188 cm
23
286 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rousimar Palhares Skywalker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hank Lunde!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Shirou Masuda and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Skywalker is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Lunde.
Lunde shoots and misses
and Skywalker counters with a left and a right that stings Lunde.
Lunde misses with a hook. Skywalker ducked under it nicely.
Lunde gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Skywalker counters with a left and a right that stings Lunde.
A slow jab from Lunde misses its intended target.
Skywalker lands a jab-cross combination.
Skywalker throws a nice looking combination but Lunde bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Skywalker throws a right and a left that both miss.
Skywalker misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lunde throws a hook but Skywalker blocks it.
Skywalker fails to land with a series of punches.
Skywalker lands the left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lunde looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Skywalker is fending him off so far but Lunde persists. Nope, Skywalker circles away and we're back to standing.
Rousimar Palhares Skywalker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hank Lunde.
Lunde comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Lunde throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Skywalker closes the distance and pushes Lunde back into the cage.
Skywalker gets underhooks to prevent Lunde's takedown attempt.
Lunde can't find room to land a body shot as Skywalker controls the action.

Skywalker is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Lunde can't fight it off and eventually Skywalker manages to take the fight to the floor. Lunde looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Lunde has his hands on Skywalker's head, controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skywalker is stalling in the full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Skywalker looking to sit in guard and control but Lunde gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Skywalker keeping moving, preventing Lunde from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Hank Lunde wasn't active enough on the ground.
Skywalker is looking to clinch but Lunde is avoiding it.
A combination from Skywalker does no damage.
Lunde ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Lunde looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Lunde in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lunde throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Skywalker is looking to stand up but Lunde isn't so interested in that idea.
Lunde working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lunde not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Horrible takedown by Lunde or perhaps it was just good defense by Skywalker which made him look bad.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rousimar Palhares Skywalker will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Lunde changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Skywalker tries to avoid it but Lunde manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Skywalker to the ground. Skywalker escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Lunde tries for a takedown but Skywalker circles away easily
and Skywalker counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Skywalker misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Skywalker here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Skywalker defending well as Lunde loads up on a big left hand.
Skywalker misses with a wild combination.
Some wild striking there from Skywalker.
Skywalker swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Lunde counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Skywalker is refusing to be controlled, as Lunde sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lunde slows the pace down in half guard.
Lunde's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Skywalker is refusing to be controlled, as Lunde sits in half guard.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Hank Lunde wasn't active enough on the ground.
Skywalker ducks under a wild hook from Lunde.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skywalker is looking to clinch.

Skywalker gets caught flat footed, as Lunde shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Lunde trying to control the position from guard on top but Skywalker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lunde trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lunde throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lunde throws a big right hand that misses.
Lunde in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lunde slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Skywalker keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lunde.
Skywalker tries to clinch up but Lunde circles away and keeps his distance.
Lunde tries to score a power double leg takedown but Skywalker sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lunde somewhat.
Rousimar Palhares Skywalker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hank Lunde.
Skywalker takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Skywalker pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Lunde back to the cage. Skywalker follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Lunde with that takedown attempt.
Rousimar Palhares Skywalker is winning the standup battle so far.
Skywalker takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Skywalker tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Lunde manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Skywalker displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lunde.
Lunde looks to land a left hand but Skywalker moved out of range nicely.
Lunde misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Skywalker tries to clinch up but Lunde circles away and keeps his distance.
Lunde looks to score with a jab to the body but Skywalker is just out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hank Lunde showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Skywalker misses with a few strikes there.
Skywalker takes a swing at Lunde's ribcage but misses.
Lunde slips a jab and a cross from Skywalker.
Skywalker stalks Lunde and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Lunde's face. Lunde staggers backwards, shaken.

Lunde shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Lunde showed some decent athleticism there.
Lunde trying to control the action but Skywalker is working from the bottom.

Lunde is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Skywalker has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lunde moves into full mount! Skywalker won't be happy about that!
Lunde tries to control but Skywalker wriggling away.
BOOM! Lunde connects with a massive shot to the dome!

It looks like Rousimar Palhares Skywalker has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lunde punching from mount but Skywalker doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Lunde landing shots from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lunde tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Skywalker wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Lunde.
Lunde is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Skywalker can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

Rousimar Palhares Skywalker's cut is getting worse.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Rousimar Palhares Skywalker's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Hank Lunde!
Hank Lunde seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.