PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bluebear Thacker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikita Von Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Thacker
vs
Von Li

225 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
25
132 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bluebear Thacker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nikita Von Li!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, John Kavanagh and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Von Li swats away the attempt to clinch by Thacker.
Thacker shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Von Li sprawls well. Von Li wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Thacker gets slowly back to his feet.
A head kick misses from Thacker.
Thacker fails to land the takedown.
Thacker fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bluebear Thacker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Von Li drives through and clinches with Thacker against the cage.

Von Li escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thacker looks to land a combination but Von Li avoids it well.
Thacker dives in and grabs Von Li's left leg, looking for a takedown. Von Li pushes down on Thacker's head and hops out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Von Li displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Thacker.
Thacker tries to clinch there but Von Li circles away.
Von Li looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Von Li shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Thacker stuffs the takedown.

Von Li fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Thacker, pushing him back against the cage.
Thacker misses with a knee to the head.
Von Li makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Thacker wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Von Li has him pressed against the cage.
Von Li slows down the pace here.
Thacker tries to pull guard but Von Li holds him up against the cage and eventually Thacker drops back down to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thacker is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Von Li to keep the fight standing.
Thacker drops down looking for an ankle pick but Von Li pulls his leg out and moves away.
Thacker shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Von Li is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Thacker tries to close the distance and clinch up but Von Li swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Thacker is looking to clinch but Von Li is avoiding it.
Horrible takedown attempt by Von Li or perhaps it was just good defense by Thacker, which made it look bad.
Thacker stuffs the takedown.
Von Li shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Thacker defends it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thacker ducks right into an uppercut from Von Li.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Von Li.

Von Li clinches.

Von Li pulls guard.
Von Li has a closed guard, preventing Thacker from standing up.

Von Li is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Thacker will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thacker wants to control from the top but Von Li keeps moving.
Von Li keeping full guard, as Thacker tries to pass.
Von Li looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Von Li has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Thacker can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thacker wanted to stand there but Von Li had control of the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikita Von Li dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Thacker tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Von Li manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Von Li shoots in and drives through. Thacker sprawls well.
Von Li is looking to clinch.
Thacker throws a series of punches but Von Li avoids them all with ease.
Thacker ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Von Li moves away.
Nice takedown defense from Von Li. No joy for Thacker on that attempt.
Thacker wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Von Li shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Thacker sprawls well. Thacker wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Von Li gets slowly back to his feet.
Thacker throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Von Li's waist but Von Li gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Thacker off to one side.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Von Li moves into the clinch successfully.
Von Li with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Thacker has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Von Li after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bluebear Thacker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thacker jumps guard but Von Li stands there with Thacker around his waist. Thacker gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Von Li breaks from the clinch.
Thacker shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Von Li holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Von Li has Thacker pressed against the cage, preventing Thacker from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Von Li breaks from the clinch.
Von Li tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Thacker defends well and Von Li ends up having to push Thacker into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Nikita Von Li seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Von Li misses with a series of wild punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Thacker as Von Li shoots in.
Von Li blocks a head kick by Thacker.
Thacker slaps away a takedown attempt from Von Li, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Von Li avoids a punch combination nicely.
Thacker really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Von Li stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Von Li wants it to stay on the feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Von Li.
Thacker keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thacker shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Von Li as he jumps to the side.
Thacker fails with a takedown attempt.
Von Li has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Von Li will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Von Li darts in looking for a takedown but Thacker gets double underhooks and turns Von Li into the cage.
Thacker is looking to counter the offense by Von Li and move into the clinch.
Thacker changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Von Li tries to avoid it but Thacker manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Von Li to the ground. Von Li escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Von Li fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Von Li has managed to clinch.
Von Li slowing the pace effectively.
Von Li keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Thacker's efforts to push away.
Thacker has had enough of the clinch but Von Li keeps him there for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Von Li stalling the fight.

Von Li pulls guard successfully.

Von Li has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Thacker is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Von Li can't get the takedown.
Von Li drops down looking for an ankle pick but Thacker pulls his leg out and moves away.

Von Li gets a clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Von Li jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Thacker walks away with a smile on his face. Von Li gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Von Li gets caught flat footed, as Thacker shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikita Von Li showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Thacker swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Thacker fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Von Li wants to clinch.
Thacker stuffs the takedown attempt from Von Li. Von Li gets slowly back to his feet.
Von Li fails to land the takedown.
Thacker attempts a counter takedown but Von Li avoids it well and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thacker shoots for a takedown but Von Li saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Von Li misses with a takedown
and Thacker counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Bluebear Thacker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nikita Von Li.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Von Li throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Thacker's waist but Thacker gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Von Li off to one side.
Thacker is looking for a counter combo.
Von Li takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Thacker fails with the takedown
and Von Li counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Thacker tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Von Li manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Von Li is trying to counter with his kicks.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Von Li is looking for a takedown.
Thacker is trying to break the clinch but Von Li has him pressed against the cage.
Von Li stalling.
A bit of stalling here from Von Li.
Von Li is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Thacker wants a takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Von Li slows down the pace here.
Nikita Von Li seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
The referee is keeping an eye on Thacker - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Von Li gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Thacker.

Von Li escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Von Li dives in and grabs Thacker's left leg, looking for a takedown. Thacker pushes down on Von Li's head and hops out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Von Li.
Von Li looks to land a combination but Thacker avoids it well.
Thacker attempts a counter takedown but Von Li avoids it well and moves away.

Von Li has Thacker up against the cage in a clinch.

Von Li's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thacker tries to clinch but Von Li is having none of it.
Von Li shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Thacker defends it nicely.
Thacker fails to land the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Von Li thuds his shin into the meat of Thacker's side.
Von Li misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Bluebear Thacker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Von Li misses with a jab, cross combination.
Thacker wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Thacker looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Thacker tries to keep at a distance but Von Li has taken the fight into the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thacker prevents a takedown attempt there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikita Von Li comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Von Li has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikita Von Li!