PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between George Kelly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lars Thunstrom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kelly comes to the cage accompanied by Jedi Mind Tricks / Retaliation . Thunstrom has chosen Prodigy - Spitfire as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kelly
vs
Thunstrom

179 cm
30
160 lbs
23 - 10 - 0

160 cm
43
160 lbs
39 - 26 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Sun-Tzu
Perkele!

KAISER

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, George Kelly!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 39 - 26 - 2, fighting out of New York, Lars Thunstrom!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Ian Loll and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thunstrom connects with a nice looking jab.
Thunstrom scores with a shot to the body.
Thunstrom pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kelly throws a half hearted mid kick.
Kelly slips a straight right by Thunstrom.
Kelly drops down looking for a counter takedown but Thunstrom sprawls and moves away.
Thunstrom fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kelly looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Thunstrom throws a body kick that misses.
Thunstrom swings widly with a right hand
and Kelly makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Lars Thunstrom seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thunstrom throws a jab when Kelly was well out of range.
Thunstrom looks to land a combination but Kelly avoids it well.
It looked like Kelly was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Thunstrom.
Thunstrom throws the left hand but Kelly avoids the punch easily.
Kelly shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Thunstrom defends it nicely.
Thunstrom jabs at Kelly's body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kelly avoids the body shot from Thunstrom.
Thunstrom swings for the body but Kelly moves out of range.
Thunstrom just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromKelly.
Thunstrom moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
We've been told by Kelly's head coaches at Mello MMA that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Kelly lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Kelly lands with a thumping leg kick.
Thunstrom digs a good body shot into Kelly's ribs.
Thunstrom on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kelly gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Thunstrom.
Kelly cracks a nice hook into Thunstrom's ribs.
Kelly looks to land a right hand but Thunstrom moved out of range.
Kelly scores with a body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thunstrom connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Thunstrom throws a jab but it's blocked by Kelly.
Thunstrom on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kelly. Kelly obviously looking to wear him down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thunstrom throws a big shot that misses.
A big left from Thunstrom misses.
A big right from Kelly misses.
Thunstrom lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Kelly looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Kelly trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kelly throwing strikes but missing.
Kelly loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Thunstrom looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kelly throws a big right hand that misses.

Thunstrom working for submissions but it's allowed Kelly to get to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Thunstrom looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kelly will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Thunstrom gets back to full guard.
Kelly controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kelly looking to sit in guard and control but Thunstrom gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Thunstrom trying to control but Kelly is working from the bottom.

Thunstrom has gone for a leg lock! Kelly slips out almost immediately though and dives into Thunstrom's guard.

Kelly trying to control the position from guard on top but Thunstrom is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kelly scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Lars Thunstrom will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Thunstrom fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kelly is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Thunstrom.
Thunstrom walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Kelly scores with a jab. Thunstrom acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Thunstrom avoids the body shot from Kelly.
Thunstrom thuds a left hand into Kelly's body.
Kelly uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Thunstrom.
Lars Thunstrom seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Thunstrom keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thunstrom avoids the body shot from Kelly.
Thunstrom missing with a left hand there. Kelly was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Thunstrom connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Kelly ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kelly tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Thunstrom was well out of range. Poor timing from Kelly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kelly lands a jab to Thunstrom's midsection.
Kelly walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thunstrom. Kelly does a little dance to reset his feet.
A little feinted left hand from Kelly on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Thunstrom throws a lazy uppercut

and Kelly counters by moving into the clinch.
Kelly throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Thunstrom blocks it with crossed arms.
Kelly lands a nice uppercut.
Thunstrom works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Kelly tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Thunstrom avoids it.
Kelly is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Thunstrom is defending well for now.
Kelly has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Thunstrom after a bit of a struggle.
Thunstrom lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kelly looking to throw knees to the head but Thunstrom is blocking nicely.
Kelly looking to throw knees to the head but Thunstrom is blocking nicely.
Kelly throws a head punch that misses.

Kelly tightens his grip and picks Thunstrom up, before dumping him to the ground. Thunstrom manages to land in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kelly throwing strikes but missing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thunstrom is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Thunstrom looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kelly is one step ahead there.
Kelly wants to control from the top but Thunstrom keeps moving.
Kelly stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thunstrom swivels though and keeps the full guard.
George Kelly overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kelly is working hard here to advance position.
Kelly is working Thunstrom over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Kelly trying to control but Thunstrom is working from the bottom.
Kelly looking to sit in guard and control but Thunstrom gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Thunstrom postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Kelly is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Thunstrom, into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thunstrom looking for a sweep. Not yet Thunstrom, not yet.
Kelly throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kelly accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Thunstrom working for a triangle but Kelly defends it easily.

Thunstrom looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Kelly passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Kelly dominated that second 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. And we move into the final round!

A big left from Thunstrom misses.
The fighters circling - Kelly throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kelly pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kelly's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Thunstrom connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Kelly scrambles back to his feet.
Thunstrom scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kelly doesn't seem bothered though.
Jab by Thunstrom.
Thunstrom misses with an uppercut
and Kelly cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kelly lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Kelly misses with a straight right.
Thunstrom blocks a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kelly tries a low kick but Thunstrom avoids it.
Kelly misses with a low kick as Thunstrom jumps back.
Thunstrom looks to score with a jab to the body but Kelly is just out of range.
Kelly looks to land a combination but Thunstrom avoids it well.
Kelly throws an off balance right hand
and Thunstrom counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kelly throws out a loose jab but Thunstrom uses good head movement to avoid it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kelly. Thunstrom does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kelly blocks a jab.
Kelly fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Thunstrom checks it well.
Kelly closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Kelly throws a head kick but Thunstrom moves out of range.
Thunstrom tries for a takedown but Kelly circles away easily
and Kelly counters with a nice low kick that buckles Thunstrom's knee momentarily.
Thunstrom throws a hook but Kelly avoids it easily.
Thunstrom misses with a wild combination.
Kelly is looking to counter punch.
A slow jab from Thunstrom misses its intended target.
Kelly throws a sloppy head kick and Thunstrom moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kelly misses with a low kick.
Thunstrom throws a hook to the side of Kelly's head but Kelly sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Thunstrom throws a poor cross that misses
and Kelly counters with a one-two to the body.
Thunstrom throws a jab but it's blocked by Kelly.
Thunstrom ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kelly moves away.
Thunstrom throws a right hand that misses
and Kelly counters with a thumping low kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thunstrom ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Kelly lands with a good body shot.
Kelly misses with a body shot.
Thunstrom jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Thunstrom misses with a hook. Kelly ducked under it nicely.
Kelly moves out of range as Thunstrom strikes.
Kelly takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thunstrom ducks under a wild hook from Kelly.
Thunstrom looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Thunstrom scores with a sloppy right hand. Kelly should have avoided that one.
Kelly is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Thunstrom takes one to the side of the head.
A good leg kick by Kelly.
Thunstrom throws a right hand that misses
and Kelly counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Kelly gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Kelly throws the kick towards the body but Thunstrom avoids it.
Thunstrom falls off balance throwing a combination
and Kelly counters with a nice body kick.
Kelly slips under a jab from Thunstrom.
A little feinted left hand from Kelly on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Thunstrom misses with a right hand
and Kelly counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Thunstrom keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thunstrom misses with a leg kick
and Kelly counters with a one-two to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kelly on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kelly feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Thunstroms jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Kelly moves away from the strike by Thunstrom.
Kelly misses with a head kick.
A punch lands to the side of Kelly 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Kelly shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Thunstrom as he jumps to the side.
Kelly dives in and grabs Thunstrom's left leg, looking for a takedown. Thunstrom pushes down on Kelly's head and hops out.
Thunstrom scores with a decent looking hook.
Kelly staying out of range there.
Kelly gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Thunstrom.
Thunstrom bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Thunstrom takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Lars Thunstrom.
I think Thunstrom has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 William Peck scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lars Thunstrom!
During a confident post fight interview, Lars Thunstrom thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
George Kelly was interviewed post fight and said 'My hats off to him he was the better fighter tonight. '.