PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Edward Thatch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Duke Dog (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Thatch
vs
Dog

191 cm
26
265 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
29
255 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Edward Thatch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Duke Dog!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Illya Tyunina and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dog takes one on the button.
Thatch tests Dog's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Thatch swinging wildly here.
Dog plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like Edward Thatch has been cut.
Thatch fails with an attempt to clinch.
Thatch connects with a nice looking jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thatch. Dog does a little dance to reset his feet.
Thatch takes a head kick and keeps coming.
A punch combination from Thatch misses.
Thatch chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Dog can pounce on him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Horrible takedown attempt by Dog or perhaps it was just good defense by Thatch, which made it look bad.
Thatch tries to clinch there but Dog circles away.
Dog moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Thatch swings for the body but Dog moves out of range.
Dog unleashes a big counter combination but Thatch bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Thatch definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
A punch combination from Dog misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thatch tries to bum rush Dog with a series of wild strikes but Dog uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Thatch changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Thatch throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Dog stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Thatch lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Dog backs up against the cage.

It looks like Duke Dog has been cut.
Dog pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Thatch back to the cage. Dog follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Dog throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
No joy there for Thatch, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Thatch looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Thatch lands with a nice body punch.
Edward Thatch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Dog gets tackled into the cage by Thatch. Thatch maintains the clinch.
Thatch blocks an uppercut.
Dog scores with a shot to the side of Thatch's head.
Thatch blocks a punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Dog.
Thatch drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dog tries a knee to the head but Thatch blocks it.

Thatch pulls guard successfully.
Dog postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Thatch working a defensive guard here.
Dog wants to control from the top but Thatch keeps moving.
Dog looking to sit in guard and control but Thatch gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Dog wants to stand up but Thatch is controlling him.
Thatch landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thatch slips nicely into half guard.
Thatch is trying to control. Dog wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thatch lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Thatch is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Thatch is trying to control. Dog wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Dog really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Thatch. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Thatch is looking to advance position but Dog won't allow it.
Dog tries to roll over but Thatch keeps him under control.
Dog tries to kick Thatch off but Thatch keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thatch wants to free his trapped foot but Dog is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Dog looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Dog tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Thatch wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dog keeps working.
Thatch landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Dog wants to get back to his feet.
Thatch passes to full mount!
Thatch fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edward Thatch dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Thatch misses with a two punch combination.
Dog lands a head kick. Thatch smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Thatch digs a good hook to Dog's body.
Thatch is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dog can do to turn this around?
Dog avoids the body shot from Thatch.
A right-left combo lands from Dog.
Dog throws a series of strikes that have Thatch backpedaling.
Thatch throws a body punch but Dog moves out of range.
Thatch throws a combination. Dog tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
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!
Sloppy strikes from Thatch. Those never looked like landing.
Dog blocks a jab.
Despite the aggression on Dog's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Edward Thatch is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Good standup being displayed there by Thatch as he connects with a hook.
Dog throws a right and a left that both miss.
Thatch fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Dog looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Thatch fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Dog, pushing him back against the cage.
Thatch leaning his opponent against the cage.
Dog misses with a knee strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dog misses with some punches.
Thatch is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Thatch wants to break free but Dog has control.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Thatch creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Dog struggles to land a body shot inside as Thatch controls his hands.
With the fighters up against the cage, Dog throws an elbow but misses.
Thatch has Dog pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Dog manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Thatch goes for a takedown attempt but Dog pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Edward Thatch. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dog avoids the body shot from Thatch.
Thatch takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Thatch misses with a looping right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dog avoids the body shot from Thatch.
Thatch takes a swing at Dog's ribcage but misses.
Dog showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Thatch.
Dog is looking for the big counter here.
Dog throws a right hand that Thatch ducks under and follows up with a left that Thatch also avoids with ease.
Thatch slips a jab and a cross from Dog.
Thatch appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
No joy there for Dog, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Thatch misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Dog.
Thatch misses with a hook.
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!
Thatch misses with a double jab.
No joy there for Dog, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Thatch scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Dog tries to bum rush Thatch with a series of wild strikes but Thatch uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Dog throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Edward Thatch's cut is getting worse.
Dog tries to bum rush Thatch with a series of wild strikes but Thatch uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thatch lands a really nice looking cross but Dog seems unphased.
A head kick misses from Dog.
Thatch scores with a jab to the jaw.
Dog looks for a takedown but Thatch sprawls well.
Thatch throws a right and a left that Dog avoids nicely.
Jab by Thatch.
Dog steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Thatch.
Dog works over Thatch's head and body with a nice combination.
Thatch scores with a one two! Dog had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Thatch feints a jab promting Dog to slip. Thatch then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Dog slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dog rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Thatch moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Thatch drops down looking for a counter takedown but Dog sprawls and moves away.
Dog throws a series of strikes that have Thatch backpedaling.
Edward Thatch is winning the standup battle so far.
Dog shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Thatch as he jumps to the side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Dog does no damage.
Dog throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Thatch tries to bum rush Dog with a series of wild strikes but Dog uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Thatch connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Dog's hands.

Dog is rocked!
Dog misses with a few strikes there.
Thatch will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Thatch looks to land a left hand but Dog moved out of range nicely.

Thatch drops Dog with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Dog looks back up at him and smiles so Thatch waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.
Dog is still on wobbly legs! Can Thatch finish him?

Dog gets tackled into the cage by Thatch. Thatch maintains the clinch.
Thatch drops down looking for an ankle pick but Dog pulls his leg out and moves away.
Dog throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thatch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thatch fakes the leg kick and throws a superman punch. It's knocked Dog out cold! Brutal finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:53 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Superman Punch). Edward Thatch!
During a confident post fight interview, Edward Thatch thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.