PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Sid Thunder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Bartman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Thunder
vs
Bartman

169 cm
21
142 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

160 cm
23
140 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sid Thunder!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Steve Bartman!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Felipe Paraventi and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bartman takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

It looks like Steve Bartman has been cut.
Bartman lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Bartman fails to land the takedown.

Bartman changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Thunder looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Thunder is looking to regain half guard here but Bartman keeps moving and retains side control.
Thunder is working hard here to advance position.
Thunder gets back to half guard.
Bartman working over Thunder with some ground and pound. Thunder looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Thunder looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Thunder tries to roll over but Bartman keeps him under control.
Bartman slips a nice elbow through Thunder's hands, connecting with Thunder's forehead.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bartman thows a huge punch but Thunder dodges it nicely.
Thunder tries to get to full guard but Bartman has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bartman fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bartman keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Thunder.
Thunder throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bartman.
Bartman uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Thunder.
Some wild striking there from Thunder.
Thunder keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Sid Thunder has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Bartman.
Bartman closes the distance and clinches up with Thunder, looking for a takedown. Bartman pushes Thunder against the cage but Thunder circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Bartman looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Thunder!
Bartman looks gassed!
Bartman connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Bartman working Thunder over with strikes here.
Bartman working Thunder over with strikes here.
Bartman prevents Thunder from getting the reversal.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bartman looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Thunder slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Thunder wants to improve his position but Bartman is controlling well.
Bartman working over Thunder with some ground and pound. Thunder looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Thunder has hold of Bartman's hands but Bartman slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Thunder on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Bartman not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Bartman working Thunder over with strikes.
Bartman lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Thunder is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Bartman pulls his head out easily.
Bartman seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Thunder looking for submissions off his back.
Thunder is not content to let Bartman control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thunder works his way to full guard. Good work.

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

Thunder looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Bartman landing some decent shots from guard.
Thunder wants to sweep but no luck.
Bartman wants to pass the guard but Thunder is keeping the position.
Thunder wants to sweep but no luck.
Bartman postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Thunder looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bartman lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Thunder has his foot on Bartman's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bartman works his way back into a safe position though.
Bartman lands a couple of digs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thunder 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bartman makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Bartman connects with a couple of short punches.

Thunder working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bartman doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bartman manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bartman's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Bartman controlling from the top position.

Thunder escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bartman gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bartman trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Thunder escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bartman gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bartman trying to control but Thunder is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Thunder will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Bartman shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Thunder pinned against the cage. Thunder gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Bartman needs to keep his hands up - Thunder had a free shot at his head there.
Bartman misses with a wild combination.
Bartman looks to land a left hand but Thunder moved out of range nicely.
Steve Bartman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bartman fails with the takedown
letting Thunder counter with a right hand.
Jab by Thunder.
Thunder connects with a high kick.
Thunder throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
No joy there for Thunder, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bartman shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Thunder but Thunder pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sid Thunder has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Bartman.
Good standup being displayed there by Thunder as he connects with a hook.
Nice sprawl there from Thunder as Bartman shoots in.
Thunder throws a head kick that misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunder throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Bartman.
Good shot there by Thunder.
Thunder throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Thunder stuffs the takedown attempt from Bartman. Bartman gets slowly back to his feet.
Thunder displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bartman throws out the jab.
Thunder throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Thunder throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bartman.
Thunder tries a head kick but it misses.
Bartman shoots in looking for a takedown. Thunder tries to sprawl out of it but Bartman keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Thunder manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Thunder thows a left - swing and a miss!

Bartman scores a takedown into full mount!
Thunder manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Thunder wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bartman is tying to control. Thunder wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Thunder looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Bartman looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Bartman missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Steve Bartman has got the better of the ground game so far.

Thunder actively working from the bottom here.
Bartman lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Bartman looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Thunder with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Thunder scores with a one two! Bartman had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Bartman shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Thunder but Thunder pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Thunder lands with a slapping head kick.
Bartman shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Thunder counters with a head kick. That will keep Bartman thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thunder throws a head kick but Bartman moves out of range.

Bartman shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Bartman looking to pass the guard.

Thunder escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bartman gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bartman slips nicely into half guard.
Thunder avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Bartman.
Bartman thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Thunder works his way to full guard. Good work.
Bartman loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Thunder keeping moving, preventing Bartman from controlling successfully.
Bartman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thunder is keeping the position for now.

Thunder has his feet on Bartman's thighs here. He's pushed Bartman off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Bartman screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:02 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Sid Thunder!