PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Bolleke (ranked 4 p4p, 2 weight class) and Anthony Falcone (ranked 74 p4p, 13 weight class). Falcone is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Goodfellas - Long take Restaurant scene - Then He Kissed Me. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bolleke
vs
Falcone

195 cm
28
191 lbs
18 - 4 - 0

191 cm
25
191 lbs
15 - 1 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
UnderGround Supplements

Aspire Clothing
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thomas Bolleke!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Anthony Falcone!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, James Ackerman and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bolleke misses with a looping left.
Falcone drops his hands momentarily and Bolleke takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Falcone throws a looping overhand right but Bolleke ducks down to avoid it.
Bolleke changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Falcone misses with a looping right.
Bolleke moves out of range of the strikes.
Bolleke connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Bolleke on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Falcone. Bolleke does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bolleke shoots for a takedown but Falcone saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bolleke scores with a shot to the body.
Falcone looks to land a right hand but Bolleke moved out of range.
A slow jab from Bolleke misses its intended target.
Falcone is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Bolleke swings widly with a right hand
and Falcone counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bolleke scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Bolleke slips a jab from Falcone.
A telegraphed right hand from Bolleke misses the target.
Falcone loads up on a big right hand but Bolleke slips the punch.
Falcone 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.
Bolleke throws a lazy right hand but Falcone sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Falcone follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Bolleke misses with a takedown attempt - Falcone sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Bolleke misses with an uppercut
and Falcone counters with a straight right hand.
Bolleke scores with a shot to the body.
Falcone's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Bolleke connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Falcone scrambles back to his feet.
Good shot there by Bolleke.
Falcone throws a low kick but Bolleke avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Falcone misses with a hook. Bolleke ducked under it nicely.
Falcone lands an overhand right.
Bolleke shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Falcone sprawls well. Falcone wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bolleke gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thomas Bolleke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
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!
Falcone digs a good hook to Bolleke's body.
Bolleke dips to his left and cracks Falcone with an uppercut!
Bolleke shoots in for a takedown but Falcone shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Falcone looks like he wants to counter punch here.
A slow jab from Bolleke misses its intended target.
Falcone misses with a body kick.
Bolleke looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A telegraphed right hand from Falcone misses the target.
Thomas Bolleke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bolleke lands an overhand right.
Bolleke connects with a body shot.
Falcone throws a hook but Bolleke avoids it easily.
Bolleke bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Falcone's head backwards.
Bolleke misses the shot to the body.
Bolleke scores with a punch to the head.
Nice defenses there by Falcone.
Falcone follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Bolleke scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Bolleke throws a right hand that misses
and Falcone counters with a straight right hand.
Falcone will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bolleke moves out of range of the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bolleke shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Falcone counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bolleke cracks Falcone with an open hand slap.
Anthony Falcone is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Falcone looks to throw the jab but Bolleke is out of range.
Falcone looks to land a right hand but Bolleke moved out of range.
Bolleke avoids the body shot from Falcone.
Bolleke avoids the body shot from Falcone.
Falcone misses with a looping left.
Bolleke misses with a hook
and Falcone cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Bolleke throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Bolleke lands with a nice combination. Falcone backs away looking to recover.
Bolleke thuds his right hand into Falcone's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Thomas Bolleke will probably get the nod.
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.

Falcone uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bolleke.
Bolleke darts in looking for a takedown but Falcone gets double underhooks and turns Bolleke into the cage.
Thomas Bolleke is winning the standup battle so far.
Falcone misses with a looping left.
Bolleke rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Falcone counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Falcone thows a left - swing and a miss!
Falcone moves away from the strike by Bolleke.
Bolleke lands a really nice looking cross but Falcone seems unphased.
Falcone ducks under a wild hook from Bolleke.
Falcone throws a right and a left that Bolleke avoids nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jab, jab by Bolleke - just one landing.
Bolleke lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Bolleke shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Falcone pinned against the cage. Falcone gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Falcone lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Falcone swings widly with a right hand
and Bolleke counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Falcone throws a jab when Bolleke was well out of range.
Bolleke tries to counter with a takedown but Falcone is quick to defend against it.

Bolleke drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bolleke looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Falcone is avoiding damage well.
Bolleke landing strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Falcone's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Bolleke working the ground and pound but Falcone is defending the strikes.
Bolleke is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Falcone will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Bolleke sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Falcone is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Bolleke working away.
Falcone pushes Bolleke away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Bolleke gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Bolleke tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Falcone taking a bit of punishment here - Bolleke scoring with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Falcone is not content to let Bolleke control the position.
Falcone is looking for a sweep.
Bolleke lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Falcone down.
Falcone taking a bit of punishment here - Bolleke scoring with strikes.
Falcone is looking to reverse the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bolleke is putting a hurting on Falcone here, landing some big shots from side control.
Bolleke lands a decent elbow from side control.
Bolleke tries to move into full mount but can't pass Falcone's legs.

Bolleke looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Falcone manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Falcone perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Bolleke tries to roll over but Falcone keeps him under control.
Bolleke works his way to full guard. Good work.
Falcone controlling from the top position.
Bolleke keeping full guard, as Falcone tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Bolleke dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Falcone keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A punch combination from Falcone misses.
Falcone steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bolleke.
A little jabbing left from Falcone on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Bolleke loads up on a big right hand but Falcone slips the punch.
Bolleke is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Falcone slips a straight right by Bolleke.
Falcone throws a left and a right that both miss
and Bolleke counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Bolleke closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Falcone did well to prevent Bolleke getting side control.
Falcone is trying to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Falcone is not content to let Bolleke control the position.
Falcone preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Falcone is trying to maintain the position but Bolleke is very close to passing his half guard.
Bolleke is taking a breather. Falcone says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Bolleke looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Falcone is holding on to half guard well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bolleke is trying to control. Falcone wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Falcone defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Bolleke.
Falcone is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Falcone motions for Bolleke to come forward. Falcone throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Falcone uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bolleke.
Bolleke looks for a takedown but Falcone sprawls well.
Falcone jabs at Bolleke's body.
Falcone throws a hook but Bolleke blocks it.
Bolleke scores with a punch to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Falcone's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Bolleke connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Falcone scrambles back to his feet.
Falcone has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Bolleke finds it's way round the side to connect with Falcone's head.
Falcone misses with a wild body shot.
Falcone takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Bolleke dives in for a single leg takedown but Falcone sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thomas Bolleke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Horrible takedown attempt by Bolleke or perhaps it was just good defense by Falcone, which made it look bad.
Falcone lands with an overhand left.
Falcone throws a half hearted mid kick.
Falcone moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bolleke has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Bolleke there as he acknowledges the shot.
Bolleke cracks Falcone with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Falcone has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Falcone there as he acknowledges the shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Donk. Bolleke catches Falcone right on the button with a cross.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Bolleke.
Bolleke shoots in for a takedown but Falcone shows good takedown defense.
Bolleke throws out a powerful jab.
Bolleke throws a lazy right hand but Falcone sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Falcone misses with a looping right.
Bolleke changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Bolleke misses with a lunging right hand
and Bolleke takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Bolleke works Falcone's body with a nice hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Bolleke clearly takes that round.
That's time! Bolleke's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Bolleke throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Falcone sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Bolleke thows a left - swing and a miss!
A punch lands to the side of Falcone 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Bolleke fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Falcone manages to avoid it.
Falcone now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Falcone misses with a two punch combination.
It looked like Bolleke wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
A decent looking cross lands there for Bolleke.
Falcone misses the shot to the body.
Bolleke shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Falcone as he jumps to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Falcone walks into a straight right hand from Bolleke.
Bolleke throws a jab but it's blocked by Falcone.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bolleke keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
A swing and a miss from Falcone.
Nice defenses there by Bolleke.
Bolleke fails with the takedown
and Falcone counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Bolleke lands a jab.
Bolleke swings away with a body shot that misses
and Falcone counters with an outside leg kick.
A slow jab from Bolleke misses its intended target.
Falcone throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Bolleke throws a body shot but no joy.
Bolleke lands a jab to Falcone's midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bolleke misses with a straight left.
Falcone doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Bolleke works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Bolleke throws a jab when Falcone was well out of range.
Bolleke misses with a hook.
Bolleke darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bolleke looks to score with a jab to the body but Falcone is just out of range.
Bolleke misses with an uppercut
and Falcone counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

Bolleke shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Falcone is trying to defend but Bolleke finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Falcone kicks Bolleke off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bolleke moves out of range as Falcone strikes.
Bolleke 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.
Falcone avoids the body shot from Bolleke.
Despite the aggression on Falcone's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Falcone staying out of range there.
Despite the aggression on Falcone's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Falcone keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Bolleke lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Falcone has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Bolleke lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Bolleke throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Falcone counters with a body kick.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Falcone.
Falcone with a body punch. A glancing blow.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Falcone ducks under a wild hook from Bolleke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bolleke slips a jab and a cross from Falcone.
Falcone waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bolleke.
Falcone throws a sloppy head kick and Bolleke moves out of range easily.
Falcone misses with a wild body shot.
A slow jab from Bolleke misses its intended target.
Bolleke throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Falcone now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Falcone throws out a loose jab but Bolleke uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bolleke throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Falcone misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bolleke.
Bolleke appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Falcone just misses with a punch to the body.
Danga de danga de dang - Bolleke scores with a four punch combination!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Thomas Bolleke will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Nice jab there from Bolleke.
Falcone throws a right and a left that Bolleke avoids nicely.
Falcone misses with a kick to the body.
Bolleke doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Bolleke takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Falcone jabs Bolleke to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Bolleke takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Falcone on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bolleke misses with a double jab.
Bolleke throws a sloppy body shot
and Falcone counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Falcone throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good exchange - Falcone coming out on top.
Falcone misses with a straight left.

Bolleke drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bolleke stopping the sweep attempt from Falcone.
Bolleke pushes down on Falcone's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Bolleke thows a huge punch but Falcone dodges it nicely.
Falcone is looking to improve his position.

Bolleke is looking for a kimura but Falcone is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Bolleke to get the leverage.
Falcone tries to get to full guard but Bolleke has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bolleke is working for a submission of some sort.
Bolleke thows a huge punch but Falcone dodges it nicely.
Falcone wants to get back to full guard.
Falcone has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Bolleke is working away from the top position though.
Falcone keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Falcone tries to roll over but Bolleke keeps him under control.
Falcone wants to control but Bolleke is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Falcone has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Bolleke finds it's way round the side to connect with Falcone's head.
Falcone lands a nice leg kick that just misses Bolleke's sensitive parts.
Bolleke dodges the punch combination from Falcone.
Falcone defending well as Bolleke loads up on a big left hand.
Falcone throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bolleke.
Bolleke is looking to counter punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bolleke has a takedown stuffed.
Falcone misses the body punch
and Bolleke connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Bolleke swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Bolleke lands a right hook to the body.
Good exchange - Bolleke coming out on top.
Bolleke throws the left hand but Falcone avoids the punch easily.

Bolleke closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Bolleke lands in his opponent's guard.
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!
Bolleke tries to free his leg and advance position but Falcone is retaining full guard.

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 Thomas Bolleke.
Well Bolleke has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 49:46
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 50:45
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Bolleke!
Thomas Bolleke retains his middleweight title!
During a confident post fight interview, Thomas Bolleke thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.