PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Lars Thunstrom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Haji Muakbar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thunstrom kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Prodigy - Spitfire. Muakbar has chosen That Punjabi Jay-Z song as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Thunstrom
vs
Muakbar

160 cm
36
160 lbs
28 - 16 - 1

171 cm
32
169 lbs
24 - 13 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

KO Clothing

Urban Savage

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 28 - 16 - 1, fighting out of New York, Lars Thunstrom!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 13 - 2, fighting out of New York, Haji Muakbar!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Eddie Farnsworth and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thunstrom swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Thunstrom closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Muakbar's guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Thunstrom stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Muakbar swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Thunstrom trying to control the position from guard on top but Muakbar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Muakbar wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Thunstrom 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Lars Thunstrom.
Thunstrom throws a lazy uppercut
and Muakbar makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Muakbar scores with a nice right hand.
Thunstrom looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Thunstrom shoots in looking for a takedown. Muakbar tries to sprawl out of it but Thunstrom keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Muakbar manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Thunstrom throws a right and a left that both miss.
Muakbar lands a right hook to the body.
Thunstrom just misses with a punch to the body.
Muakbar throws a jab when Thunstrom was well out of range.
Thunstrom misses with a left hand
and Muakbar counters with a right hand to the body.
Muakbar misses with a looping right.
Muakbar avoids a punch combination nicely.
Muakbar staying out of range there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thunstrom swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Thunstrom avoids the body shot from Muakbar.
Nice straight punches there by Thunstrom. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Thunstrom.
Muakbar has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thunstrom slips a jab from Muakbar.
Muakbar lands a nice looking body shot.
Muakbar throws a right and a left that Thunstrom avoids nicely.
Muakbar looks to land a left hand but Thunstrom moved out of range nicely.

Thunstrom scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Thunstrom is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Muakbar is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Thunstrom looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Muakbar tries to buck Thunstrom off but Thunstrom is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muakbar manages to work his way to half guard, despite Thunstrom's best efforts.
Muakbar won't allow Thunstrom to pass to mount.
Thunstrom is looking to take a break and control but Muakbar is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Thunstrom seems to be working for a kimura but Muakbar defends the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muakbar gets back to full guard.
Muakbar keeping moving, preventing Thunstrom from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Muakbar trying to keep a closed guard but Thunstrom is proving a slippery customer.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thunstrom tries to free his leg and advance position but Muakbar is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lars Thunstrom dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Thunstrom shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Muakbar pulls Thunstrom in to control the position.
Thunstrom tries to free his leg and advance position but Muakbar is retaining full guard.
Muakbar controlling Thunstrom's posture.
Muakbar looking for a sweep. Not yet Muakbar, not yet.
Thunstrom is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Muakbar on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Thunstrom scores with a nice right hand.
A big right from Thunstrom misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunstrom throws a series of punches but Muakbar avoids them all with ease.
Thunstrom moves out of range as Muakbar strikes.
Thunstrom moves out of range of the leg kick from Muakbar.
Muakbar with a hook.
Muakbar cracks Thunstrom with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Thunstrom avoids a kick to the body.
Muakbar uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Thunstrom.
Muakbar throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Muakbar takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Muakbar takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Thunstrom lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Muakbar backs up against the cage.
Muakbar walks into a left hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Muakbar goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A head kick misses from Muakbar.
Thunstrom slips a jab and a cross from Muakbar.
Thunstrom lands a two punch combo.
Thunstrom misses with a hook. Muakbar ducked under it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Thunstrom.
A big left from Muakbar misses.
Thunstrom misses with a hook.
Muakbar scores with a body shot.
Muakbar moves in looking to clinch but Thunstrom pushes him off.
Muakbar is looking to clinch but Thunstrom is avoiding it.
Thunstrom connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Muakbar looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Muakbar throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thunstrom defending well as Muakbar loads up on a big left hand.
Thunstrom fails with the takedown.
Thunstrom just misses with a punch to the body.
Thunstrom misses with a wild body shot.
Muakbar ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thunstrom just misses with a punch to the body.
Thunstrom punishes Muakbar's body with a nice straight punch.
Thunstrom thows a body shot but no joy.
Thunstrom steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Muakbar.
Thunstrom scores with a nice strike.
Thunstrom tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Muakbar swivels and escapes.
Decent striking displayed by Muakbar there.
Muakbar loads up on a big right hand but Thunstrom slips the punch.
A jab from Muakbar misses.
A big left from Muakbar misses.
Thunstrom misses the jab.
Thunstrom swings for the body but Muakbar moves out of range.
A cross from Muakbar lands.
Muakbar throws a series of punches but Thunstrom avoids them all with ease.
Thunstrom throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Muakbar ducks under a wild hook from Thunstrom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muakbar fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Thunstrom on the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Muakbar throws a looping overhand right but Thunstrom ducks down to avoid it.
Muakbar swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Thunstrom.
Thunstrom moves away from the strike by Muakbar.
A big left from Muakbar misses.
Thunstrom digs a good body shot into Muakbar's ribs.
Muakbar ducks under a wild hook from Thunstrom.
Muakbar misses with a left hand

and Thunstrom counters with a single leg into guard. Muakbar didn't expect that.
Thunstrom trying to control the position from guard on top but Muakbar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lars Thunstrom overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Thunstrom looking to sit in guard and control but Muakbar gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Thunstrom is trying to keep Muakbar in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lars Thunstrom dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Thunstrom swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Muakbar throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Muakbar ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Thunstrom swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Muakbar thows a left - swing and a miss!
Thunstrom swings for the body but Muakbar moves out of range.
Thunstrom misses with a wild body shot.
Muakbar throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thunstrom throws a big shot that misses.
Muakbar ducks under a wild hook from Thunstrom.
Thunstrom misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Muakbar.
Thunstrom thows a left - swing and a miss!
Muakbar thows a left - swing and a miss!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Muakbar.
Muakbar throws a series of punches but Thunstrom avoids them all with ease.
Thunstrom on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunstrom throws a poor cross that misses
and Thunstrom takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Muakbar misses with a two punch combination.
Thunstrom throws a lazy right hand but Muakbar sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Muakbar sizes up Thunstrom with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Muakbar with a hook.
Thunstrom misses with a body shot.
Muakbar throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thunstrom throws a hook but Muakbar blocks it.
Muakbar misses with a body shot.
Nice takedown defense from Muakbar. No joy for Thunstrom on that attempt.
Muakbar steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Thunstrom.
Thunstrom throws a head kick but Muakbar moves out of range.
Thunstrom avoids a punch combination nicely.
Good exchange - Muakbar coming out on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thunstrom decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Muakbar tries to get to full guard but Thunstrom has control of the leg.
Muakbar is refusing to be controlled, as Thunstrom sits in half guard.

Thunstrom is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Muakbar doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Thunstrom.
Thunstrom trying to pass the guard but Muakbar defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thunstrom prevents Muakbar from improving his position.
Thunstrom trying to pass the guard but Muakbar defending well.
Thunstrom trying to control the action but Muakbar is working from the bottom.
Haji Muakbar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four 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.
Lars Thunstrom is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Lars Thunstrom just wasn't active enough.
Thunstrom throws an off balance right hand
and Muakbar cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Muakbar is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Thunstrom works Muakbar's body with a nice hook.
Thunstrom dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Muakbar throws a big shot that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Muakbar takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Muakbar looks to score with a jab to the body but Thunstrom is just out of range.
Muakbar uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Thunstrom.
Thunstrom throws a looping overhand right but Muakbar ducks down to avoid it.

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 Lars Thunstrom.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Thunstrom, 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 John Roberts scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lars Thunstrom!
A victorious Lars Thunstrom thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.