PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Karl Socha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Twelf Thermandin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thermandin comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Prelude 12 by Styx kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Socha
vs
Thermandin

185 cm
26
186 lbs
18 - 5 - 0

180 cm
31
202 lbs
26 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160
Reaper Combatwear

Milwaukee's Best 160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Karl Socha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Twelf Thermandin!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Franklyn Lucas and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thermandin swings for the body but Socha moves out of range.
Socha misses with a straight left.
Thermandin tries to land a body kick
and Socha counters with an inside leg kick.
Thermandin scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Socha avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Thermandin is looking to clinch but Socha is avoiding it.
Thermandin throws a sloppy head kick and Socha moves out of range easily.
Thermandin throws a series of punches but Socha avoids them all with ease.
Socha circles away from the clinch attempt

and Socha counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Thermandin!
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
The ground and pound from Socha seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Socha tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thermandin tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Socha wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thermandin is still trying to improve position.
Thermandin can't do much from the bottom here.
Thermandin sneaks back into half guard.
Thermandin is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Socha's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Socha's back!
Thermandin is hanging on to Socha's back as he tries to escape.
Thermandin has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Socha's body.
Socha looking very determined here, making life difficult for Thermandin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thermandin looking for the choke but no joy.
Socha tries to escape the position.
Socha has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Thermandin.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Thermandin controlling the positon.
Thermandin tries to get the hooks in deep but Socha pushed the leg off.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thermandin keeps control of the position as Socha tries to break free.
Socha trying to control the action but Thermandin just sinks the hooks in.
Socha tries to escape but Thermandin has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Thermandin trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Socha doesn't escape.
Thermandin not allowing Socha to control his hands.
Thermandin is looking to finish with some ground and pound!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Socha covering up well and avoiding damage.
Thermandin controlling well, preventing Socha from escaping the position.
Thermandin controlling from the back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Socha defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Socha tries to break free.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thermandin trying to control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thermandin controlling the position well here. Socha rolled but Thermandin kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Twelf Thermandin dominated that round.
That's time! Socha's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Thermandin takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Thermandin takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Thermandin is looking to clinch but Socha is avoiding it.
Thermandin throws a nice outside leg kick.
Socha is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Socha, right into the meat.
Thermandin wants to slow Socha down by chopping away at his legs.
Socha waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Thermandin.
Thermandin jabs at Socha's body.
Thermandin lands with a thumping leg kick.

Thermandin closes the distance and clinches.
Socha is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Thermandin gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thermandin blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Socha doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Socha drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Thermandin misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Thermandin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Socha managing to block the knees to the body from Thermandin.
Thermandin misses with some punches.
Thermandin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Socha's elbow.
Socha tries to throw a body punch but Thermandin avoids it by throwing Socha back against the cage.
Socha misses with some punches.
Socha working aggressively here.
Socha lands with a light punch inside.
Thermandin blocks a body shot from Socha.
Socha lands on the inside with an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Socha.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thermandin tries to work over Socha's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Thermandin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Thermandin unloads a knee to the mid-section. Socha lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Thermandin blocks a body shot from Socha.
Thermandin takes an elbow to the forehead.
Thermandin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Socha misses with a punch to the body.
Thermandin working Socha over with knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Socha misses with a hook from the clinch.
Socha has a couple of punches blocked by Thermandin.
Socha blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Thermandin is looking to take this one to the mat.
Socha managing to block the knees to the body from Thermandin.
Socha softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Thermandin tries a knee to the head but Socha blocks it.
Socha prevents the takedown attempt.
Socha misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Socha.
A nice left hand lands by Socha.
Karl Socha has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Socha has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Thermandin is trying to keep an underhook but Socha manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Twelf Thermandin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Socha stalling.
Thermandin is trying to get back to full guard.
Socha keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Socha wants to take a breather but Thermandin is having none of it.
Thermandin wants to control but Socha is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Thermandin is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Socha is thwarting Thermandin's attempts to control the position.
Socha wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thermandin keeps working.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Socha lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A solid leg kick lands there for Socha.
Thermandin moves out of range of the body kick.

Thermandin has taken the fight to the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Socha lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Thermandin crunches a lovely knee into Socha's ribcage.
Thermandin is working Socha over against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karl Socha dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Thermandin misses with a low kick.
Thermandin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Thermandin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Socha moves away.
Nice shot by Thermandin.
Thermandin tries a head kick but it misses.
Thermandin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Socha.
Socha misses with a body kick.
A head kick misses from Thermandin.
An inside leg kick lands from Socha.
Socha throws a low kick but it's checked well by Thermandin.
Thermandin scores with a head kick.
Socha tried to score with a low kick but Thermandin checks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Socha checks the leg kick nicely there.
Socha moves out of range as Thermandin throws a body kick.
Socha circles away from the clinch attempt
and Socha counters with a nice body kick.
Socha lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Twelf Thermandin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Thermandin misses with a lunging right hand
and Socha cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Socha throws a hook to the side of Thermandin's head but Thermandin sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Socha feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Thermandin's calf.
Thermandin scores with a leg kick.
Socha throws a series of punches but Thermandin avoids them all with ease.
Socha throws a leg kick but Thermandin moved away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Socha connects with a looping right hand.
Thermandin wants to clinch up but Socha keeps it at a distance.
Socha throws a low kick but it's checked well by Thermandin.
Socha looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thermandin scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Socha fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Thermandin is out of range.
Socha on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Socha jabs Thermandin right on the nose. Thermandin blinks but takes it well.
Thermandin throws a solid leg kick but Socha takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Thermandin.
Socha throws a chopping leg kick but Thermandin manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Thermandin misses with a hook.
Thermandin closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thermandin checks a low kick from Socha.
Socha checks a leg kick.
Thermandin throws a head kick that misses.
Thermandin doesn't manage to clinch there - Socha circles away.
Socha attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Thermandin paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Thermandin on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Thermandin misses with a hook to the body
and Socha counters with a low kick, right behind Thermandin 's knee.
Socha works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Twelf Thermandin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Good leg kick by Socha there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Socha feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Thermandin's calf.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thermandin checks a leg kick.
Thermandin's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

Thermandin has managed to clinch.
Socha is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Thermandin is defending well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thermandin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Socha is defending well for now.
Socha misses with a punch on the inside.
Thermandin fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Thermandin throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Socha doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Socha takes a knee right on the jaw!
Thermandin managing to block the knees to the body from Socha.
Socha prevents a body shot from Thermandin.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Socha misses with the head strike.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Thermandin obliges.
Thermandin looking to throw knees to the head but Socha is blocking nicely.
Socha misses with a hook from the clinch.

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 Karl Socha.
I think Socha 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:28
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Karl Socha!
During a confident post fight interview, Karl Socha thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.