PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gundar Thorsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Soda Popinski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Thorsen
vs
Popinski

201 cm
19
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

196 cm
18
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Gundar Thorsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Soda Popinski!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Skip Squint and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thorsen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Popinski throws a series of punches but Thorsen moves out of range.

Thorsen has closed the distance and engaged Popinski in a clinch.

Thorsen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thorsen swinging wilding here.
No joy there for Popinski, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Thorsen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Popinski falls off balance throwing a combination

and Thorsen holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Popinski is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Thorsen lands a body punch.
Popinski wants to get back to striking at distance but Thorsen won't allow it.

Thorsen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Popinski slips a jab and a cross from Thorsen.

Thorsen moves into the clinch successfully.
Popinski wants to break free but Thorsen has control.
Popinski wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Thorsen is stalling here.
Popinski wants to get back to striking at distance but Thorsen won't allow it.
Popinski misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Thorsen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Popinski throws a right and a left that both miss.
Soda Popinski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Thorsen clinches up against the cage.

Thorsen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thorsen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popinski connects with a body shot.

Thorsen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Thorsen.

Popinski breaks from the clinch.
Popinski should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Thorsen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Popinski paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The fighters circling - Popinski throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Popinski will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Thorsen slips a jab and a cross from Popinski.
Thorsen moves into range and connects with a jab.

Thorsen closes the distance and clinches.
Nice body punch from Thorsen.
Thorsen drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Popinski gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Popinski wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Popinski is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Thorsen breaks from the clinch.
Popinski throws a series of punches but Thorsen moves out of range.

Thorsen darts in and clinches Popinski up against the cage.
Popinski wants to break the clinch but can't.
Thorsen goes for a takedown attempt but Popinski pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gundar Thorsen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thorsen is breathing heavily.
Popinski looks to land a combination but Thorsen avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popinski does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Popinski throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Thorsen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Popinski swinging wilding here.
Thorsen scores with a three punch combo!

Popinski is rocked!

It looks like Soda Popinski has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thorsen misses with a leg kick.
Thorsen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Thorsen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Popinski fails to land with a series of punches.
A right-left combo lands from Thorsen.
Popinski is still on wobbly legs! Can Thorsen finish him?
Thorsen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Thorsen takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Popinski throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Thorsen moves into the clinch.
Popinski seems to have recovered his senses.
Thorsen lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Thorsen keeps control of Popinski as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Thorsen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thorsen keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thorsen slips a jab and a cross from Popinski.
Popinski tries to bum rush Thorsen with a series of wild strikes but Thorsen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Thorsen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Popinski tries to avoid it but Thorsen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Popinski to the ground. Popinski escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Popinski throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Thorsen counters with a stiff right hand.
A punch combination from Popinski misses.
Popinski swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Popinski lands a jab-cross combination.
Left hook, right uppercut from Popinski.
Thorsen slips a jab and a cross from Popinski.
Thorsen sizes up Popinski with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Popinski!
Popinski plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Popinski rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Thorsen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Popinski looks to land a combination. Thorsen sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Popinski throws a leg kick which misses Thorsen's front leg but catches the back leg as Thorsen tries to avoid it.
Popinski throws a series of punches but Thorsen moves out of range.
Popinski dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Thorsen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Popinski throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popinski throws a series of punches but Thorsen moves out of range.
Thorsen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Popinski misses with a two punch combination.
Popinski connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Thorsen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Popinski paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Popinski misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Popinski tries to bum rush Thorsen with a series of wild strikes but Thorsen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Thorsen moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Thorsen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Popinski scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Popinski uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thorsen.
Nice jab there from Popinski.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Popinski stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Popinski wants to clinch.
Thorsen shoots in but no luck this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gundar Thorsen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Soda Popinski's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Popinski throws a nice looking combination but Thorsen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Thorsen clinches up against the cage.
Popinski tries to break the clinch but Thorsen is controlling the position.
Popinski is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Popinski prevents the takedown attempt.
Popinski has had enough of the clinch but Thorsen keeps him there for the moment.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Thorsen prevents Popinski from breaking the clinch.
Popinski trying to stall but Thorsen improves his position.
Popinski is looking to break free of the clinch but Thorsen has double underhooks.
Popinski has had enough of the clinch but Thorsen keeps him there for the moment.
Popinski has had enough of the clinch but Thorsen keeps him there for the moment.

Thorsen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Thorsen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A hook to the body from Thorsen.
Thorsen digs a right hand underneath Popinski's ribcage. Popinski let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Thorsen digs a right hand underneath Popinski's ribcage. Popinski let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Popinski misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short uppercut from Thorsen.
Popinski misses with some punches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Thorsen manages to break the clinch.
Popinski misses with a body kick.
A punch combination from Thorsen misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thorsen moves in looking to clinch but Popinski pushes him off.
Thorsen is looking to clinch.
Thorsen tries to clinch but Popinski moves out of range.
Popinski scores with a nice body kick.
Popinski throws a combination that misses

and Thorsen holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Thorsen wants to break the clinch but can't.
Popinski is looking to break free of the clinch but Thorsen has double underhooks.

Popinski breaks from the clinch.
Popinski swats away the attempt to clinch by Thorsen.
A punch combination from Popinski misses.
Popinski looks to land a combination but Thorsen avoids it well.
Popinski connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Popinski tries to bum rush Thorsen with a series of wild strikes but Thorsen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Thorsen tries to clinch up but Popinski circles away and keeps his distance.
Popinski lands a two punch combo.
Popinski throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Popinski throws a combination. Thorsen tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Popinski throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's two 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.
Thorsen fails to land the takedown.
Popinski throws a series of punches but Thorsen avoids them all with ease.
Thorsen blocks a head kick by Popinski.
Thorsen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Popinski's waist but Popinski gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Thorsen off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gundar Thorsen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Popinski stalks Thorsen and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Thorsen's face. Thorsen staggers backwards, shaken.
Popinski misses with a double jab.
Popinski fails to land with a series of punches.
Gundar Thorsen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thorsen wants to clinch up but Popinski keeps it at a distance.

Thorsen drives through and clinches with Popinski against the cage.
Popinski scores with a hook to the body.
Thorsen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Popinski is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Thorsen pushes Popinski back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Popinski prevents a body shot from Thorsen.
Popinski wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Thorsen has him pressed against the cage.

Thorsen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Popinski lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Thorsen tries to clinch but Popinski moves out of range.
Thorsen has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thorsen walks forward, straight into a front kick from Popinski.
Thorsen walks forward, straight into a front kick from Popinski.
Popinski listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Popinski moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Thorsen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Popinski darts in trying to clinch

and Thorsen counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Thorsen.
Thorsen keeps control of Popinski as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Popinski wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Thorsen has him pressed against the cage.

Thorsen breaks from the clinch.
Thorsen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Popinski doesn't manage to clinch there - Thorsen circles away.
A punch combination from Thorsen misses.
Popinski fails to land with a series of punches.
Popinski scores with a three punch combo!
No joy there for Popinski, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Thorsen avoids the head kick by Popinski.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Popinski misses with a jab, cross combination.
Popinski throws a series of punches but Thorsen avoids them all with ease.
Thorsen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Popinski circles away from the clinch attempt.
Thorsen shoots in but Popinski avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Popinski throws a left and a right that both miss

and Thorsen counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Thorsen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Popinski looks to land a combination but Thorsen avoids it well.
Thorsen slips a jab and a cross from Popinski.
A punch combination from Popinski misses.
Popinski throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Thorsen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Popinski.
Popinski throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Thorsen fails with a takedown attempt.
Popinski cracks Thorsen with an open hand slap.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gundar Thorsen dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Soda Popinski's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! 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.

Popinski looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Thorsen moves into the clinch successfully.
Thorsen lands a shoulder strike.
Popinski wants to break the clinch but can't.
Thorsen just leaning against Popinski, taking a breather.
Popinski can't find room to land a body shot as Thorsen controls the action.

Thorsen breaks the clinch.
Popinski lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Popinski displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Soda Popinski seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Popinski throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Popinski looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Thorsen drives through and clinches with Popinski against the cage.
Thorsen wants a takedown but no success here.
Popinski wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Thorsen looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Popinski wants to break free but Thorsen has control.
Popinski is looking to break free of the clinch but Thorsen has double underhooks.
Popinski wants to break free but Thorsen has control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Popinski tries to break the clinch but Thorsen is controlling the position.

Thorsen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thorsen doesn't manage to clinch there - Popinski circles away.
Thorsen throws a right and a left that both miss.
Popinski looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Popinski.
Popinski misses with a few strikes there.
A jab from Popinski finds it's way through Thorsen's defenses.
Popinski is working the combinations to good effect here.
Popinski throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thorsen.
Popinski goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Popinski throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Popinski throws a series of punches but Thorsen moves out of range.
Popinski misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A combination from Popinski does no damage.
Thorsen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Popinski throws a nice looking combination but Thorsen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Thorsen looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Popinski scores with a one two! Thorsen had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Thorsen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Thorsen has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Popinski.
Popinski takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Popinski throws a nice looking combination but Thorsen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
A right-left combo lands from Popinski.
Popinski misses with a combination
and Thorsen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Popinski misses with a two punch combination.

Thorsen clinches up against the cage.

Thorsen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thorsen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Popinski.
A combination from Popinski does no damage.
Thorsen dodges the punch combination from Popinski.
A cross from Popinski lands.
Thorsen jabs Popinski right on the nose. Popinski blinks but takes it well.
Thorsen slips a jab and a cross from Popinski.
Thorsen throws a one two combo.
Thorsen shoots in for a double leg but Popinski sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Thorsen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Popinski but Popinski pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gundar Thorsen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thorsen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thorsen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Popinski swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The fight stays on the outside here - Popinski looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Popinski falls off balance throwing a combination
and Thorsen counters with a straight right hand.
Popinski lands a nice looking body kick.
Thorsen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Popinski lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Popinski lands an overhand right.
Thorsen slips a jab and a cross from Popinski.
Popinski lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Thorsen backs up against the cage.
Thorsen misses with a looping left.
Thorsen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Popinski tries to avoid it but Thorsen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Popinski to the ground. Popinski escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Popinski is looking to clinch but Thorsen is avoiding it.
A nice combination there by Popinski.
Popinski throws a quick inside leg kick.
Popinski throws a right and a left that both miss.

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.
Thorsen wants to clinch up but Popinski keeps it at a distance.
Thorsen tries to clinch but Popinski is having none of it.
Popinski tries to bum rush Thorsen with a series of wild strikes but Thorsen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Popinski wants to break free but Thorsen has control.
Soda Popinski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thorsen content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Thorsen manages to break the clinch.
Thorsen tries for a takedown but Popinski sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A decent looking cross lands there for Popinski.
Popinski fails to land with a series of punches.
Thorsen slips a jab and a cross from Popinski.
Thorsen lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Popinski backs up against the cage.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thorsen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Popinski misses with a combination

and Thorsen holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Popinski has a couple of punches blocked by Thorsen.
Thorsen wants a takedown.
Thorsen prevents Popinski from breaking the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Soda Popinski.
I think Thorsen 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:28
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gundar Thorsen!