PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rolf Thorkildsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wayne Giggs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thorkildsen comes to the cage accompanied by AC/DC - Hell's Bells. Rolf Thorkildsen has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Thorkildsen
vs
Giggs

176 cm
37
165 lbs
25 - 16 - 0

184 cm
24
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Sex Panther! (160q recovery $149)

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 25 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rolf Thorkildsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Wayne Giggs!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Giggs tries to land a body kick
and Thorkildsen counters with a straight right hand.
Thorkildsen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Giggs.
Thorkildsen thows a body shot but no joy.
Giggs misses with a straight left.
Giggs takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Giggs throws a hook but Thorkildsen avoids it easily.
Giggs connects with the punch.
Giggs works Thorkildsen's body with a nice hook.
Jab by Giggs.
Thorkildsen with a body punch. A glancing blow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd cheers as Giggs lands an impressive looking overhand right. Thorkildsen doesn't seem phased though.
Giggs scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Wayne Giggs is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thorkildsen throws a hook but Giggs blocks it.
Giggs lands with a slapping head kick.

It looks like Rolf Thorkildsen has been cut.
A telegraphed right hand from Giggs misses the target.
Giggs misses with a head kick.
Thorkildsen avoids the head kick by Giggs.
Giggs bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Thorkildsen avoids the body shot from Giggs.
Giggs wants to slow Thorkildsen down by chopping away at his legs.
Nice shot lands for Giggs.
Giggs throws a lazy right hand but Thorkildsen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Giggs lands with a thumping leg kick.
Thorkildsen thows a body shot but no joy.
Thorkildsen scores with a nice strike.

It looks like Wayne Giggs has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Giggs misses with a leg kick.
Giggs throws out a powerful jab.
Wayne Giggs seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Giggs connects with a single shot there.
Giggs tries to land a front kick but Thorkildsen steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Thorkildsen lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Giggs looks to throw a body kick

and Thorkildsen counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Giggs's guard now.
Giggs looking to control.
Giggs can't keep his opponent in guard - Thorkildsen advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thorkildsen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Thorkildsen 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.
Thorkildsen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Thorkildsen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Giggs's head.
Thorkildsen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Thorkildsen moves into full mount! Giggs won't be happy about that!
Thorkildsen landing strikes from the mount and Giggs is in trouble!
Thorkildsen landing strikes from the mount and Giggs is in trouble!
Thorkildsen takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Thorkildsen lands a big elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thorkildsen throwing strikes here but Giggs is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Thorkildsen with good strikes from the mount here!

Giggs is rocked!
Thorkildsen thowing shots but they're missing.
Thorkildsen punishing his opponent with strikes.
Giggs is still in real trouble! Can Thorkildsen finish him?
Poor strikes thrown by Thorkildsen there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Giggs seems to have recovered his senses.
Giggs is squirming around, avoiding Thorkildsen's attempts to control the action.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Thorkildsen is really struggling to control Giggs but he's trying to hold on to the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rolf Thorkildsen dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Giggs throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Thorkildsen takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Giggs swings widly with a right hand
and Thorkildsen counters with a stiff right hand.
Thorkildsen blocks a head kick by Giggs.
Thorkildsen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Giggs.
Giggs cracks Thorkildsen with an open hand slap.
Thorkildsen avoids the body shot from Giggs.
Giggs throws a lazy head kick
and Giggs takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Wayne Giggs seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Giggs keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Giggs tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Thorkildsen was well out of range. Poor timing from Giggs.
Giggs throws a nice looking combination but Thorkildsen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Giggs fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thorkildsen manages to avoid it.
Giggs misses with a hook.
Giggs avoids the body shot from Thorkildsen.
Giggs feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Thorkildsen's calf.
Giggs throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Thorkildsen misses with a straight left.
Thorkildsen takes one to the side of the head.
A lazy left from Thorkildsen finds it's target.

That has opened up Wayne Giggs's cut even more.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Giggs swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Giggs attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Giggs throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thorkildsen takes a kick to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Giggs throws a head kick but Thorkildsen moves out of range.
Thorkildsen blocks the body kick.
Giggs tries to clinch up.
Nice body punch from Thorkildsen.
Giggs throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Giggs lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Giggs throws an off balance right hand
and Thorkildsen counters with a stiff right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Thorkildsen.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Thorkildsen, as that shot connected.
Giggs moves away from the strike by Thorkildsen.
The fighters circling - Thorkildsen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Giggs lands with a good body shot.
Giggs keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thorkildsen thuds a left hand into Giggs's body.
Thorkildsen looks to score with a jab to the body but Giggs is just out of range.
Giggs throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Giggs ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Giggs throws a head kick that misses.
Thorkildsen scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Giggs throws out a leg kick but Thorkildsen moves out of range and Giggs only half commits.

Thorkildsen decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thorkildsen is looking to take a break and control but Giggs is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Giggs is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Thorkildsen pulls his head out easily.
Giggs is breathing heavily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Giggs keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Thorkildsen wants to control but Giggs is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rolf Thorkildsen dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Thorkildsen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Thorkildsen moves out of range of the strikes.
Giggs wants to clinch.
Giggs throws the left hand but Thorkildsen avoids the punch easily.
Thorkildsen throws a sloppy body shot
enabling Giggs to counter with a crisp jab.
Giggs feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Thorkildsen's calf.
Giggs misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Giggs uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Thorkildsen.
Thorkildsen scores with a sloppy right hand. Giggs should have avoided that one.
Thorkildsen thows a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Giggs with a hook.
A good leg kick by Giggs.

Thorkildsen drives through with a takedown into Giggs's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Giggs avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Giggs working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thorkildsen.
Thorkildsen wants to control from the top but Giggs keeps moving.
Rolf Thorkildsen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Giggs is trying to control the position but Thorkildsen postures up.

Giggs looking for a guillotine here but Thorkildsen defends easily.
Giggs utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thorkildsen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Thorkildsen throws a big elbow that misses.
Wayne Giggs has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thorkildsen cracks Giggs with a solid left hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thorkildsen trying to control the position from guard on top but Giggs is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thorkildsen postures up in Giggs's guard and throws a big left but Giggs blocks it.
Thorkildsen trying to control but Giggs is working from the bottom.
Thorkildsen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thorkildsen is looking to work some ground and pound but Giggs has wrist control.
Thorkildsen postures up in Giggs's guard and throws a big left but Giggs blocks it.
Thorkildsen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Giggs working for a triangle but Thorkildsen defends it easily.
Giggs takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Thorkildsen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Thorkildsen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Giggs avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thorkildsen drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Thorkildsen jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Thorkildsen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thorkildsen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Giggs works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Giggs utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Giggs keeping full guard, as Thorkildsen tries to pass.
Thorkildsen is looking to work some ground and pound but Giggs has wrist control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thorkildsen is working Giggs over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Giggs has his foot on Thorkildsen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Thorkildsen works his way back into a safe position though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rolf Thorkildsen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Thorkildsen, 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rolf Thorkildsen!
Rolf Thorkildsen decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.