PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nigel Gazelle (ranked 4288 p4p, 143 weight class) and Jamal Thatcher (ranked 8046 p4p, 257 weight class). Nigel Gazelle could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Jamal Thatcher's chin.

Gazelle
vs
Thatcher

200 cm
26
290 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

204 cm
25
305 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super 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, Nigel Gazelle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jamal Thatcher!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thatcher misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Thatcher dives in and scores a takedown into Gazelle's guard.
Gazelle keeping moving, preventing Thatcher from controlling successfully.
Gazelle controlling the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gazelle is on top in guard.

Gazelle stops Thatcher from standing up.
Gazelle missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gazelle stopping the sweep attempt from Thatcher.
Thatcher managing to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gazelle trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Thatcher looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Gazelle working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gazelle throws a big elbow that misses.
Gazelle tries to free his leg and advance position but Thatcher is retaining full guard.
Thatcher wants to sweep here but Gazelle controlling him for the moment.
Thatcher is pulling down on Gazelle's head. It's preventing any offense from Gazelle, at least for the moment.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Gazelle trying to control the position from guard on top but Thatcher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Gazelle shoots in and gets a takedown into Thatcher's guard.
Gazelle is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thatcher looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gazelle is one step ahead there.
Thatcher managing to control the position.
Gazelle preventing the sweep.
Gazelle is fighting to break Thatcher's control of his arms but Thatcher is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gazelle throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Thatcher has control of Gazelle's left arm, preventing Gazelle from doing any damage.
Thatcher 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.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Gazelle seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Thatcher scores with a body shot.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gazelle.
Gazelle tries for a takedown but Thatcher circles away easily
and Thatcher counters with a nice uppercut.
Gazelle shoots for a double leg takedown but Thatcher sprawls well. He's pushed Gazelle's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nigel Gazelle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gazelle is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gazelle shoots and misses
and Thatcher counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Gazelle has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Gazelle there as he acknowledges the shot.
Gazelle avoids the body shot from Thatcher.
It looked like Gazelle was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Gazelle takes a jab right on the kisser.
Thatcher just misses with a punch to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Thatcher as Gazelle shoots in.
Nigel Gazelle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thatcher cracks Gazelle with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Gazelle shoots in for a takedown but Thatcher shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Thatcher unleashes a big counter combination but Gazelle bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gazelle takes a body punch but keeps moving.
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!

Thatcher shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Gazelle manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Thatcher cracks Gazelle with a solid left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jamal Thatcher dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Thatcher connects with a jab.
Gazelle tries to clinch up.

Gazelle pushes Thatcher up against the cage in a clinch.
Gazelle is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Gazelle letting Thatcher take a breather here.
Gazelle has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Thatcher avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Gazelle has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Thatcher regains guard immediately.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gazelle working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Thatcher has control of Gazelle's left arm, preventing Gazelle from doing any damage.
Gazelle has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Thatcher looking for a guillotine here but Gazelle defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gazelle stops Thatcher from standing up.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Gazelle's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Gazelle trying to control the position from guard on top but Thatcher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Thatcher holds on and takes a little breather.
Thatcher keeping moving, preventing Gazelle from controlling successfully.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Thatcher can do anything to dispel that myth.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Gazelle is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Thatcher is aware though and is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thatcher controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Thatcher wants to control from the top but Gazelle keeps moving.
Gazelle is trying to control the position but Thatcher postures up.
Thatcher controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Thatcher is continuing to stall.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Nigel Gazelle is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thatcher swings for the body but Gazelle moves out of range.
Thatcher connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Gazelle's hands.
Gazelle tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Thatcher swivels and escapes.

Thatcher closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Gazelle's guard.
Thatcher slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Gazelle avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Thatcher postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gazelle working a defensive guard but Thatcher manages to pass into side control anyway.
Thatcher scoring with punches from side control.
Gazelle stops Thatcher from passing to mount.
Jamal Thatcher has got the better of the ground game so far.
Thatcher is looking to take a break and control but Gazelle is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Thatcher working the head and body with strikes.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thatcher grinds an elbow into Gazelle's temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jamal Thatcher showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Gazelle looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Thatcher is fending him off so far but Gazelle persists. Nope, Thatcher circles away and we're back to standing.
Gazelle with a lazy takedown attempt
and Thatcher counters with a nice uppercut.
Gazelle takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Thatcher closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Gazelle did well to prevent Thatcher getting side control.
Gazelle pushes Thatcher off but Thatcher dives into side control.
Thatcher is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Thatcher has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Thatcher lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Gazelle down.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thatcher scores with punches from side control.
Thatcher controlling from side mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thatcher working the ground and pound from side control.
Thatcher cracks Gazelle with a big elbow.
Gazelle is being controlled here.
Thatcher wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gazelle keeps working.
Thatcher lands a few punches from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Gazelle is not content to let Thatcher control the position.
Gazelle takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Thatcher tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Thatcher is working Gazelle over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thatcher working the body and head with strikes.
Thatcher trying to control the position but Gazelle is working away.
Gazelle tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Thatcher wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Gazelle wants to control but Thatcher postures up.
Gazelle being controlled for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Gazelle moves into range and connects with a jab.
Gazelle doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Thatcher counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nigel Gazelle. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thatcher feints and as Gazelle raises his hands in defense, Thatcher changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Thatcher engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Nigel Gazelle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thatcher with a nice head shot there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jamal Thatcher comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Thatcher winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jamal Thatcher!
Nigel Gazelle was interviewed post fight and said '.....'.