PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gareth McCall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aznar Thrul (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McCall's entrance music is Bobby Darin - Mack The Knife. A fine choice. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

McCall
vs
Thrul

185 cm
37
195 lbs
26 - 18 - 0

189 cm
27
190 lbs
17 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 26 - 18 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gareth McCall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aznar Thrul!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McCall throws a body punch but Thrul moves out of range.
McCall looks to throw the jab but Thrul is out of range.
McCall scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
McCall's corner calls for a 1-2. McCall obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Thrul moves forwards but McCall connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Thrul ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McCall moves away.
Thrul throws a body kick that misses
and McCall connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
McCall jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
McCall tries to close the distance and clinch up but Thrul swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A swing and a miss from McCall.
McCall throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Thrul.

It looks like Aznar Thrul has been cut.
McCall definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Thrul walks into a stiff left hand from McCall.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thrul jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Thrul slips a straight right by McCall.
Thrul lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Thrul tries to score a power double leg takedown but McCall sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Thrul somewhat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thrul blocks a head kick by McCall.
Thrul throws a leg kick that is checked
and McCall counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
McCall doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
McCall throws a body punch but Thrul moves out of range.
A combination from McCall does no damage.
Thrul throws out a counter right but McCall avoids it with no problem.
McCall lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Thrul at a distance.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thrul. McCall does a little dance to reset his feet.
McCall ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thrul moves away.
McCall takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Thrul tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McCall was well out of range. Poor timing from Thrul.
McCall chopping away at his opponent's legs.
McCall lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thrul throws a body shot but no joy.
Thrul moves in looking to clinch but McCall pushes him off.
Thrul with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCall misses with a looping right.
McCall throws a push kick but Thrul slaps the foot to one side.
Thrul tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McCall was well out of range. Poor timing from Thrul.
Thrul cracks the inside of McCall's front leg.
McCall closes the distance looking to clinch
and Thrul counters with a nice uppercut.
Thrul thows a left - swing and a miss!
A jab from McCall misses.
Thrul looks to land a combination but McCall avoids it well.
Thrul misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McCall.
Thrul moves away from the strike by McCall.
Gareth McCall is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

McCall moves into the clinch.
Thrul throws a punch but it's blocked by McCall.
McCall misses with a body punch.
McCall throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thrul tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Thrul misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Thrul is looking for a takedown up against the cage. McCall gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Thrul lands a body shot.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, McCall creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A left hand lands to the body for Thrul.
Thrul works on McCall's body with a couple of short punches.
McCall prevents the takedown attempt.
Gareth McCall has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aznar Thrul.
Thrul lands with a right to the head.
McCall misses with an elbow strike.
McCall gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Thrul.
McCall misses with a shot to the kidneys.
McCall comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
McCall misses with a punch to the body.
McCall lands a nice elbow.
Thrul lands a shot to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for McCall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCall looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Thrul lands with a left to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thrul lands a nice uppercut.
Thrul struggles to land a body shot inside as McCall controls his hands.
McCall comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Thrul avoiding damage as McCall throws knees to the body.
Thrul tried to land a shot to the body but connects with McCall's elbow.
McCall lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Thrul on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Thrul lands with a right to the head.
Thrul misses with the head strike.
Thrul works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
McCall creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McCall lands an elbow just above Thrul 's eye.
A quick uppercut on the inside from McCall.
Thrul tries to circle away but McCall has him pinned against the cage.
Thrul blocks an elbow strike from McCall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gareth McCall dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Aznar Thrul's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

That kick from Thrul tenderised McCall's leg. McCall is trying to keep his angry face on.
A lazy body kick from Thrul
letting McCall counter with a right hand.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from McCall, right into the meat.
Thrul throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Thrul keeps the fight on the outside.
Thrul slips under a jab.
Thrul bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of McCall's head.
McCall on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Thrul keeps McCall at a distance using the push kick.
Thrul lands with a shot to the body.
Thrul lands a jab to McCall's midsection.
Thrul swats away the attempt to clinch by McCall.

Thrul scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thrul landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thrul sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. McCall defending well though.
McCall has a hand on Thrul's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Thrul takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Thrul controlling the pace for now.
Thrul working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Thrul throws some wild stikes that McCall manages to avoid easily.
Thrul trying to control but he's not successful this time.
McCall takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
McCall really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thrul working McCall over with strikes here.
Thrul trying to control but McCall is having none of it.
McCall is working to get back to half guard.
McCall avoids a series of strikes thrown by Thrul.
Thrul prevents McCall from getting the reversal.
Thrul lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Thrul lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thrul thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Thrul lands a big shot there that rocks McCall but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Thrul has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Thrul throwing strikes here but McCall is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Thrul trying to control but McCall is having none of it.
Thrul throwing strikes here but McCall is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Thrul thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Thrul pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Thrul with a couple of short strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCall slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Thrul wants to pass to mount but McCall is defending the position.
Thrul misses with a head shot. McCall uses the momentum to regain guard.
Thrul tries to free his leg and advance position but McCall is retaining full guard.
Thrul trying to control but McCall is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aznar Thrul showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Aznar Thrul's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Thrul connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed McCall momentarily.
Gareth McCall is winning the standup battle so far.
Thrul uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McCall.
McCall throws an overhand right that lands on Thrul's shoulder, as Thrul tries to avoid the shot.
McCall throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Thrul shapes to counter with a head kick.
McCall stuns Thrul with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
McCall thows a leg kick but Thrul checks it
and Thrul counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Thrul misses with a two punch combination.
Thrul moves out of range of the leg kick from McCall.
Thrul is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
McCall misses with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thrul with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling McCall to score with a decent uppercut.
Thrul tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McCall paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Thrul clinches with his opponent.
Thrul lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thrul tries to throw a body punch but McCall avoids it by throwing Thrul back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thrul has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed McCall clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

McCall is trying to get back to his feet. He's worked up on to his knees and now he's on his feet with his head on the canvas, trying to shake Thrul off. It looks like it's working - Thrul slides off, much to his dismay, and we're back to standing! McCall displaying calm under pressure there.
Thrul moves forwards but McCall connects with a nice, crisp jab.
McCall uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Thrul.
McCall jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Thrul turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
McCall attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thrul checks the leg kick.
McCall throws an overhand right that lands on Thrul's shoulder, as Thrul tries to avoid the shot.
A big right from McCall misses.
McCall tries to clinch there but Thrul circles away.
Thrul goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice cross by Thrul.
Thrul throws a low kick but it's checked well by McCall.
McCall tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
McCall connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Thrul's hands.
McCall tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thrul paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Thrul lands a jab to the nose.
McCall throws a lazy uppercut
and Thrul counters with a good low kick that McCall was not able to check.
Thrul throws a head kick that misses.
Thrul scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Thrul keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from McCall.
McCall misses with a looping left.
McCall connects with a high kick.
Nice uppercut there from Thrul.
A slapping leg kick lands for Thrul.
McCall bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thrul has McCall up against the cage in a clinch.
Thrul misses with a body punch.
Thrul misses with a punch on the inside.
Thrul misses with a punch to the body.
Thrul has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. McCall seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Thrul can turn it around.
McCall lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
McCall is looking to control Thrul's arms but Thrul gets an underhook and turns him. Now McCall has his back to the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Thrul.
Thrul lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of McCall backwards.
Thrul works on McCall's body with a couple of short punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McCall misses with a hook from the clinch.
McCall blocks a body shot from Thrul.
Thrul fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Thrul tries to throw a body punch but McCall avoids it by throwing Thrul back against the cage.
McCall lands a nice elbow.
Thrul lands a shoulder strike.
Thrul lands with a short shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thrul lands a right hand that snaps the head of McCall backwards.
Thrul goes for a takedown in the clinch but McCall prevents it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thrul throws a blind hook that connects with the side of McCalls head.
McCall gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Thrul.

Thrul lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Thrul is looking for a kimura here.
Thrul content to control rather than advance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aznar Thrul comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Thrul 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aznar Thrul!
Aznar Thrul decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.