PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Raijin Kage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lars Thunstrom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kage kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Ride the Lightning. Thunstrom comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Prodigy - Spitfire kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Raijin Kage could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Lars Thunstrom's chin.

Kage
vs
Thunstrom

165 cm
28
162 lbs
15 - 6 - 1

160 cm
41
160 lbs
35 - 23 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)
Fury Nutrition Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 6 - 1, fighting out of London, Raijin Kage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 35 - 23 - 2, fighting out of New York, Lars Thunstrom!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Jorge Garcia and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kage closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kage struggles to land a body shot inside as Thunstrom controls his hands.

Kage manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Kage throws his legs up looking for a submission but Thunstrom uses it to pass to side control.
Kage can't do much from the bottom here.
Kage is trying to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kage is trying to get back to his feet.
Kage trying to control but Thunstrom flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Thunstrom not allowing Kage to control his hands.
Kage breaks Thunstrom's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thunstrom is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kage defends well.
Kage preventing the sweep.
Kage throws a strike but Thunstrom rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Kage is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Thunstrom defends well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kage is trying to keep Thunstrom in close.
Thunstrom won't allow Kage to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kage has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Thunstrom can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Kage has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Thunstrom can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Thunstrom pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kage is keeping the position for now.
Thunstrom is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Thunstrom wants to control from the top but Kage keeps moving.
Kage being controlled here, momentarily.
Kage throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kage working for a triangle but Thunstrom defends it easily.
Thunstrom prevents Kage from getting back to his feet.
Thunstrom trying to control but Kage is working from the bottom.
Kage will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Thunstrom leaves Kage with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Thunstrom takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Kage throws a sloppy head kick and Thunstrom moves out of range easily.

Kage feints and as Thunstrom raises his hands in defense, Kage changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kage working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kage postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kage trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kage is stalling in the full guard.
Thunstrom looking to control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kage throws a strike but Thunstrom rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raijin Kage dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

A slapping body kick lands there for Kage.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kage.
It seemed like Thunstrom was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Thunstrom jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kage is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kage fails with an attempt to clinch.

Thunstrom tries to keep at a distance but Kage has taken the fight into the clinch.
Thunstrom misses with a body punch.
Thunstrom lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Kage blocking some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kage is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Kage tries to throw a body punch but Thunstrom avoids it by throwing Kage back against the cage.
Thunstrom throws a head punch that misses.
Thunstrom is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Kage wants a takedown but no success here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Thunstrom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kage is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raijin Kage. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kage is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Thunstrom gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Thunstrom lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kage backwards.
Kage misses with a hook to the ribs.
A right hand to the body from Thunstrom.
Thunstrom has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Kage seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Thunstrom can turn it around.
Kage drops down looking for an ankle pick but Thunstrom pulls his leg out and moves away.
Kage tries to clinch up but Thunstrom circles away and keeps his distance.
Thunstrom swings for the body but Kage moves out of range.
Kage tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Thunstrom counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kage moves away from the strike by Thunstrom.
Kage gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Kage tries to clinch up but Thunstrom circles away and keeps his distance.

Kage shoots in and bounces Thunstrom off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kage accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kage throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Thunstrom works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Thunstrom is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kage is aware though and is defending well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Thunstrom looking for a guillotine here but Kage defends easily.
Kage scoring with some ground and pound.

Thunstrom is looking for a triangle but Kage pushes his legs off easily.
Kage postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kage accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kage postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kage accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kage wants to pass the guard but Thunstrom is keeping the position.
Thunstrom is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Kage trying to control here.
Thunstrom blocks the strikes from Kage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thunstrom wants to take a breather but Kage is having none of it.

Thunstrom wants to work for an arm triangle but Kage is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Kage makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kage.
Kage wants to sweep but no luck.
Kage is working hard here to advance position.
Thunstrom trying to control the position from guard on top but Kage is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thunstrom stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kage swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lars Thunstrom 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!

Kage shoots in looking for a takedown. Thunstrom tries to sprawl out of it but Kage keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Thunstrom manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Thunstrom tries to keep at a distance but Kage has taken the fight into the clinch.

Thunstrom is fighting off a takedown attempt but Kage is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Thunstrom to the mat. Thunstrom regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Kage makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Kage throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thunstrom 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.

Thunstrom has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Kage is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Thunstrom.
Thunstrom dodges the ground and pound from Kage.
We've been hearing that Kage has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kage in side control lands a decent elbow.
Kage connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Thunstrom some visible discomfort.
Kage fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Kage in side control, throwing shots but Thunstrom defends.
Kage working the ground and pound.
Kage is chipping away with strikes.
Kage working the head and body with strikes.

Kage tries for a kimura but Thunstrom is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kage grinds an elbow into Thunstrom's temple.
Kage scores with a couple of short elbows.
Thunstrom is looking for a sweep.
Raijin Kage overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kage working the ground and pound but Thunstrom is defending the strikes.
Thunstrom is looking to regain half guard here but Kage keeps moving and retains side control.
Thunstrom avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Kage.
Kage sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Thunstrom is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thunstrom tries to buck Kage off but Kage is having none of it.
Kage postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Kage controls the position.
Kage connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Thunstrom some visible discomfort.
You can see the frustration on Thunstrom's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kage throwing shots but missing, from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thunstrom is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Thunstrom is working to avoid the ground and pound but Kage connects with a decent elbow.
Thunstrom parries the strikes from Kage easily there. Kage is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Thunstrom to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thunstrom dodges the ground and pound from Kage.
Kage is looking to take a break and control but Thunstrom is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kage lands a nice forearm strike.
Kage is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Thunstrom can do to turn this around?
Kage cracks Thunstrom with an elbow. That is naaassty.
The ground and pound from Kage seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kage working the ground and pound from side control.

Thunstrom is rocked!
Kage scores with a big shot from side control... and another... and another! Oh Thunstrom is done here - save him referee! More strikes land and eventually the ref does step in and Kage can finally stop beating on his defenseless opponent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Raijin Kage!
After winning the bout, Raijin Kage thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.