PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thirsty Thurston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Powerful Mofo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Thurston
vs
Mofo

190 cm
22
212 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Alpha-Omega

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Thirsty Thurston!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Powerful Mofo!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mofo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Thurston tries to avoid it but Mofo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Thurston to the ground. Thurston escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Thurston will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Powerful Mofo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thurston is looking to clinch.

Thurston has managed to clinch.

Thurston gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Mofo regains guard.
Thurston throwing strikes from guard but Mofo blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mofo wants to improve his position but instead Thurston has moved into half guard.
Thurston prevents Mofo from improving his position.
Mofo is pressing down on Thurston's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Mofo throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Mofo 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thurston throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mofo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mofo trying to strike off his back.
Thurston has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Thurston drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Thurston wants to control but Mofo is keeping him busy.
Mofo regains half guard.
Mofo trying to control from the bottom.
Thurston has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Mofo is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thurston avoids the attempt from Mofo to control.
Thurston prevents Mofo from getting the reversal.

Thurston with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Mofo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Thurston breaks from Mofo's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Thurston landing strikes, looking to finish!
Thurston with a couple of short strikes.
Mofo bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Thurston is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mofo with a nice head shot there.
Mofo distracts Thurston with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Thurston looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mofo is one step ahead there.
Thurston trying to control the position.
Mofo makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Mofo postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Mofo content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Mofo postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mofo is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Thurston working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mofo.
Mofo trying to move into half guard but instead Thurston has managed to sweep!
Mofo pulls Thurston in close to prevent any damage.
Thurston postures up.
Mofo wants to hit a switch here but Thurston passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Mofo there!
Thurston scoring with strikes but Mofo is staying in there.
Mofo wants to control but Thurston is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thirsty Thurston dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Thurston lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Thurston drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mofo is trying to control the position but Thurston postures up.
Thurston distracts Mofo with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Mofo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Thurston lands a couple of elbows.
Mofo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Thurston is one step ahead there.
Mofo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Thurston's guard.
Mofo wants to pass the guard but Thurston is keeping the position.
Thurston tries to strike from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mofo postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thurston keeping moving, preventing Mofo from controlling successfully.
Mofo advances position into side control!
Thurston is trying to get back to half guard.
Mofo lands a decent elbow from side control.
Thurston is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Thurston blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mofo.
Mofo working Thurston over with strikes.
Mofo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mofo lands strikes from half guard.
Thurston works his way to full guard. Good work.
Mofo trying to control but Thurston is working from the bottom.
Mofo chips away with some ground and pound.
Mofo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thurston is keeping the position for now.
Mofo trying to control the position from guard on top but Thurston is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thurston is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thurston is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Thurston throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Thirsty Thurston overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Mofo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Thurston moves into range and clinches up with Mofo.
Thurston tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Mofo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Thurston drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Thurston goes for a takedown attempt but Mofo pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thirsty Thurston. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed right hand from Mofo misses the target.
Mofo looks to land a right hand but Thurston moved out of range.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Thurston goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Mofo shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Thurston tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Mofo cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Mofo working the ground and pound effectively.
Mofo is landing with some decent strikes but Thurston is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Mofo lands a big shot there that rocks Thurston but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Mofo with a couple of short strikes.
Mofo misses with a head shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Powerful Mofo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Thurston fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Mofo sprawls well initially but Thurston persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Mofo is looking for a sweep. Thurston is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mofo is trying to maintain the position but Thurston is very close to passing his half guard.
Mofo wants to get back to full guard but Thurston has passed into side control.
Mofo is trying to escape the mount.
Thurston lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Mofo hang on?
Mofo swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mofo tries to hold on but Thurston postures up.
Thurston has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Mofo's face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mofo flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Mofo is squirming around, avoiding Thurston's attempts to control the action.
Thurston with good strikes from the mount here!
Mofo tries to lock up and control but Thurston gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Mofo throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Thurston lands a nice shot to the head.
Mofo tries to reverse the position but Thurston maintains control.
Thurston trying to control but Mofo is having none of it.
Mofo tries to hold on but Thurston pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Thurston working the ground and pound effectively.
Thurston with good strikes from the mount here!
Thurston raining down shots from the mount!
Mofo flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Mofo is in all sorts of trouble here.

Thurston looking for a guillotine from mount but Mofo is having none of it.
Thurston prevents Mofo from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thurston throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Mofo tries to reverse the position but Thurston maintains control.
Mofo is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Thurston avoids the attempt from Mofo to control.
Thurston prevents Mofo from getting the reversal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Thurston dominating with strikes here.
Thurston with shots to the head and body - Mofo looks very uncomfortable down there.
Mofo throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Mofo is trying to escape the mount.
Mofo bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thurston throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thirsty Thurston clearly takes that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Mofo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Thurston swivels and escapes.
Mofo with a poor takedown

and Thurston decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Mofo's guard.
Thurston with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Mofo has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Thurston has passed into side control.
Thurston lands some shots froms side control.
Thurston is looking to take a break and control but Mofo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mofo is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Mofo is trying to get back to full guard.
Thurston wants to control but Mofo is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mofo works his way to full guard. Good work.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Thurston stopping the sweep attempt from Mofo.
Mofo looking to control.
Mofo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Thurston is one step ahead there.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Mofo is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Thurston.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Mofo closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Mofo is looking to take a break and control but Thurston is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mofo seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Thurston trying to control but Mofo postures up.
Thurston missing with punches from the bottom.
Mofo passes the guard and advances to mount!
Mofo breaks from Thurston's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thurston is wriggling around trying to escape.
Mofo landing strikes from the mount and Thurston is in trouble!
Mofo has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Thurston's face.
Mofo working the ground and pound effectively.
Mofo is landing with some decent strikes but Thurston is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Thurston tries to lock up and control but Mofo gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Thurston is bucking up trying to escape but Mofo cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Mofo lands a heavy elbow.
Mofo working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thurston is in a horrible position here. Mofo smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Mofo has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Thurston's face.
Mofo scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Mofo lands with some strikes.
Mofo throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Thurston in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Mofo dominating with strikes here.
Thurston is in all sorts of trouble here.
Mofo cracks Thurston with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Mofo landing strikes from the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Powerful Mofo dominated that fourth round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A jab from Thurston does it's job there.
Thurston stalks Mofo and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Mofo's face. Mofo staggers backwards, shaken.
Thurston lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Thurston will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Mofo looks for a takedown but Thurston sprawls well.
Thurston swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Mofo.
Mofo misses with a hook to the body
and Thurston counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Thurston fails in his attempt to clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Thurston.
Mofo throws out a loose jab but Thurston uses good head movement to avoid it.

Thurston has taken the fight to the clinch.
Thurston has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Mofo is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thirsty Thurston. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thurston tries for a takedown but Mofo manages to get underhooks.
Mofo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Thurston has hold of one of Mofo's legs. Mofo is fighting the takedown attempt but Thurston gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Mofo thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Mofo trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thurston stopping the sweep attempt from Mofo.
Thurston throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Thurston makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Mofo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Thurston postures up in Mofo's guard and throws a big left but Mofo blocks it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Mofo misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Thurston counters with a head kick. That will keep Mofo thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Mofo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Thurston is fending him off so far but Mofo persists. Nope, Thurston circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Thurston tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mofo swivels and escapes.
Thurston clobbers Mofo with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Mofo fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Thurston sprawls well initially but Mofo persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Mofo is trying to control the action in half guard but Thurston is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Well, if Mofo is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Thurston flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Mofo takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Mofo slips a nice elbow through Thurston's hands, connecting with Thurston's forehead.
Thurston is not content to let Mofo control the position.
Thurston tries to roll over but Mofo keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thurston blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mofo.
Mofo wants to control but Thurston is keeping him busy.
Mofo throws a strike but Thurston avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Thurston striking off his back but it's not causing Mofo any problems.

Thurston is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Mofo with a poor takedown

and Thurston counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Thurston breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thurston tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mofo swivels and escapes.
Thurston throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mofo's waist but Mofo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Thurston off to one side.
Nice sprawl there from Thurston as Mofo shoots in.
A right-left combo lands from Thurston.
Thurston scores with a one two! Mofo had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mofo shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Thurston but Thurston pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Thurston throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Thurston moves into the clinch.

Thurston manages to break the clinch.
Mofo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thurston manages to avoid it.

Thurston has Mofo up against the cage in a clinch.
Mofo gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Thurston.
Mofo has had enough of the clinch but Thurston keeps him there for the moment.
Mofo wants to break free but Thurston has control.
Thurston will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Mofo up against the cage.
Thurston tries for a takedown. No joy.

Thurston breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Mofo shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Mofo was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Thurston is squirming around, avoiding Mofo's attempts to control the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Thirsty Thurston.
I think Thurston has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 48:47
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 48:48
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 47:48

The fight is ruled a draw!
Thirsty Thurston retains his title. It's always disappointing when a championship fight ends as a draw but that's what happens when you leave the fight in the judges hands!