PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Finn Van Thom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lee Date (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Van Thom comes into the arena with Foo Fighters - Hero blaring out of the sound system. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Van Thom
vs
Date

185 cm
21
215 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

194 cm
21
215 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Urban Fighter

Humanoid Nutrition (160Q for 160$)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Finn Van Thom!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Lee Date!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Kenichi Hosakawa and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Date lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Date with a nice cross.

It looks like Finn Van Thom has been cut.
Van Thom with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Date lands a nice looking body shot.
Decent striking displayed by Date there.
Date slips a jab from Van Thom.
Van Thom moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Van Thom has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Abobomination Training in the buildup to the fight.
Van Thom lands with a hook. Date tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Van Thom fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Date, as that shot connected.
Van Thom misses with a leg kick
and Date counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Van Thom connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Date's hands.
Van Thom connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Date momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Thom tries to bum rush Date with a series of wild strikes but Date uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Despite the aggression on Date's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Van Thom shoots in but no luck this time.
Date tries to counter with a clinch but Van Thom shakes him off and moves away.
Van Thom throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Van Thom misses with a wild combination.
Van Thom shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Date but Date pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Van Thom tries for a takedown but Date sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Finn Van Thom. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Van Thom lands a jab-cross combination.
Date works the jab nicely.
Van Thom lands an overhand right.
Van Thom tries a low kick but Date avoids it.
Date wants to counter the offense by Van Thom and move into the clinch position.
Finn Van Thom seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Thom shoots in for a double leg but Date sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Date connects with a good right hand that stumbles Van Thom. Van Thom circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Date showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Van Thom.
Van Thom throws a body kick that misses.
Date has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Van Thom lunges at Date with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Date's hand.
Nice takedown defense from Date. No joy for Van Thom on that attempt.
Date has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Van Thom wants to clinch up but Date keeps it at a distance.
Lee Date is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Date has closed the distance and engaged Van Thom in a clinch.
Van Thom is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Date gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Van Thom tries to break free but Date pushes him back against the ropes.
Date pushes Van Thom back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Date lands with a right to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Date keeps control of Van Thom as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Van Thom blocks an uppercut.
A short right from Date on the inside.
Van Thom is looking to break free of the clinch but Date has double underhooks.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Date.
Date misses with a hook from the clinch.
Date throws a punch but it's blocked by Van Thom.
Date misses with a hook from the clinch.
Van Thom blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Date will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Van Thom up against the ropes.
Date tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Van Thom has clasped his hands together around Date's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
You can see the frustration on Date's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Van Thom creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Thom trying to control the position but Date is working away.
Van Thom just content to control the position.
Date sneaks back into half guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Van Thom wants to control but Date is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Lee Date will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Finn Van Thom's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Date lands a jab to Van Thom's midsection.
Van Thom connects with a body shot that sends Date's belly button to the back.
Van Thom bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Van Thom throws a leg kick but Date sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Date has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Date there as he acknowledges the shot.
Van Thom fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Date looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Van Thom throws a leg kick
and Date counters with a straight right hand.
Van Thom slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A left and a right from Van Thom both land. Nice combination.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Date checks the leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Date looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Van Thom tries to counter with a takedown but Date is quick to defend against it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Date doesn't manage to clinch there - Van Thom circles away.
Date dodges the punch combination from Van Thom.
Date looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

Date gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Date lands a left hand that snaps the head of Van Thom backwards.
Date throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Van Thoms head.
Date doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch on the inside from Date fails to land.

Van Thom manages to pull guard.
Date engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Van Thom keeping full guard, as Date tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Thom is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Date is controlling him.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Van Thom wants to sweep here but Date controlling him for the moment.
Van Thom is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Date is controlling him.
Van Thom not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Thom wants to stand and escape but Date is having none of it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Date tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Van Thom paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Van Thom is looking for a counter combo.
Date misses with a double jab.
Van Thom wants to land a leg kick but Date is out of range.
Van Thom fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Date dodges the punch combination from Van Thom.
Van Thom ducks right into an uppercut from Date.
Date throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Van Thom misses with the combination.
It seemed like Date was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Thom misses with a body punch
and Date counters with a nice uppercut.
Van Thom misses the body punch
and Date counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A punch combination from Van Thom misses.
Date misses with a wild body shot.
Date fakes a jab and then connects 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!
Van Thom moves out of range as Date strikes.
Van Thom throws a shot from downtown. Date moves away and avoids it.
Date misses with a series of wild punches.
It looked like Van Thom was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Van Thom misses with a kick to the body.
A little jabbing left from Date on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Van Thom throws a predictable looking body shot
and Date counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Lee Date will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Finn Van Thom's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Van Thom is pinned up against the ropes taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Date's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Van Thom connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Date scrambles back to his feet.
Van Thom falls off balance throwing a combination

and Date counters by clinching up.
Date misses with some punches.
Van Thom is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Date gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Van Thom is trying to force a seperation but Date has the dominant position.
Date taking a breather.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Date.

Van Thom breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Thom darts in trying to clinch
and Date counters with a nice body shot.
Van Thom lands with an uppercut that bounces Date off the ropes and back into range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Date crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Van Thom - the referee stops the clock and Date gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Van Thom. Date manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Date comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Van Thom throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A bone on bone clash there as Date blocks the leg kick.
Date connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Finn Van Thom is winning the standup battle so far.
Van Thom throws a right hand that misses
and Date counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Date fails with an attempt to clinch.
Van Thom was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Date slips a jab and a cross from Van Thom.
Date throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Van Thom stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Van Thom throws a leg kick
and Date cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Finn Van Thom's cut is getting worse.
Van Thom walks into a left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donk. Van Thom catches Date right on the button with a cross.
Finn Van Thom has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Van Thom looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Van Thom throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Van Thom stands up and beckons Date to join him on the feet.
Van Thom lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Date lands a nice looking body shot.
Date gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Date closes the distance and clinches.
Date fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Date softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Lee Date seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Van Thom gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Date working a defensive guard here.
Date keeping moving, preventing Van Thom from controlling successfully.
Van Thom loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Lee Date is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Van Thom in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Van Thom stopping the sweep attempt from Date.
Van Thom trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Date keeping moving, preventing Van Thom from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Date is working an open guard so Van Thom takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Van Thom rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Date moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Van Thom misses with a wild body shot.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Date! But no joy.
Date connects with a jab.
Date moves out of range as Van Thom throws a body kick.
Nice cross by Date.
Van Thom throws a body kick that misses
and Van Thom takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Van Thom looks to throw the jab but Date is out of range.
Date swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
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!
Van Thom is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Van Thom motions for Date to come forward. Van Thom throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Finn Van Thom.
I think Date 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:29
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Finn Van Thom!
In his post fight interview, Finn Van Thom started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.
Lee Date was interviewed post fight and said 'I just hope you destroy that fake champion...'.