PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Walter Flanagan (ranked 3643 p4p, 2839 weight class) and Thor Fresh (ranked 413 p4p, 330 weight class). Flanagan comes to the cage accompanied by The Wizard . Walter Flanagan has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Flanagan
vs
Fresh

171 cm
42
158
17 - 18 - 1

180 cm
26
166
6 - 8 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Finnish Elite Extreme Science

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 17 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Walter Flanagan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Thor Fresh!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Wesley Smith and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Fresh goes for a takedown attempt but Flanagan pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Flanagan tries to sprawl but Fresh drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Fresh is looking to take a break and control but Flanagan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Fresh seems to be working for a kimura but Flanagan defends the submission attempt.

Fresh is trying to work for a kimura but Flanagan is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Fresh is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Flanagan defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flanagan tries to get to full guard but Fresh has control of the leg.
Fresh wants to control but Flanagan is keeping him busy.
Flanagan is looking to improve his position.
Fresh is trying to control. Flanagan wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Fresh seems to be working for a kimura but Flanagan defends the submission attempt.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Fresh in particular looking to stall.

Flanagan looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Fresh is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Flanagan moves into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Flanagan is trying to keep Fresh in close.
Fresh trying to control the position from guard on top but Flanagan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Fresh drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Fresh jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Fresh is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Flanagan is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Flanagan has escaped and now he's on top!

Flanagan stopping the sweep attempt from Fresh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fresh looking for a guillotine here but Flanagan defends easily.
Fresh is trying to keep Flanagan in close.
Flanagan wants to control from the top but Fresh keeps moving.
Fresh wants to sweep here but Flanagan controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Fresh is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Fresh is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Flanagan postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Fresh keeping moving, preventing Flanagan from controlling successfully.

Fresh looking for a guillotine here but Flanagan defends easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Fresh looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Flanagan passes into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thor Fresh dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Fresh with a lazy takedown attempt
and Flanagan counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Fresh misses with a takedown attempt
and Flanagan counters with a straight right hand.
Thor Fresh is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fresh fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Flanagan appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Walter Flanagan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thor Fresh.
Fresh tries for a takedown but Flanagan circles away easily
and Fresh takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Fresh shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Flanagan counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Fresh closes the distance but Flanagan moves to the side
and Flanagan counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fresh fails in his attempt to clinch.
Thor Fresh seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fresh fails with the takedown
and Flanagan counters with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Fresh or perhaps it was just good defense by Flanagan, which made it look bad.
As Fresh looks to move away, Flanagan throws a big counter combo but Fresh just gets out of the way.
Fresh misses with a takedown
and Fresh takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Fresh has his takedown stuffed
and Flanagan counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Fresh closes the distance but Flanagan moves to the side
and Flanagan counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Fresh clinches with his opponent.
Flanagan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Fresh can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fresh misses with a knee to the head.
Fresh is trying to pull guard but Flanagan turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Flanagan gets through Fresh's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Fresh's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Fresh gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Flanagan to counter with a crisp jab.
Horrible takedown attempt by Fresh or perhaps it was just good defense by Flanagan, which made it look bad.
Fresh has a takedown stuffed.
Flanagan changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Fresh shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Flanagan counters with a straight right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fresh with a lazy takedown attempt
and Flanagan counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Fresh tries a head kick but it misses.
Fresh with a lazy takedown attempt
and Flanagan counters with a nice uppercut.
Fresh is breathing heavily.
Fresh tries for a takedown but Flanagan circles away easily
and Flanagan makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Fresh shoots and misses
and Flanagan counters with a left to the body.
Fresh shoots and misses
and Flanagan counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Fresh fails in his attempt to clinch.
Flanagan throws a big counter combination but Fresh scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Fresh shoots and misses
and Flanagan counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fresh throws a leg kick but Flanagan sees it coming and checks it nicely.
It looked like Flanagan was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Fresh doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Flanagan counters with a left to the body.
Fresh closes this distance looking for a takedown but Flanagan circles away.
Flanagan seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Fresh tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Flanagan manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Fresh closes the distance looking to clinch
and Flanagan counters with a nice uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fresh tries to close the distance and clinch up but Flanagan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Walter Flanagan is winning the standup battle so far.
Fresh shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Flanagan pinned against the cage. Flanagan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Flanagan is looking for a counter combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Walter Flanagan dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Fresh pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Fresh has his takedown stuffed
letting Flanagan counter with a right hand.
Fresh wants to clinch.
Fresh has his takedown stuffed
and Flanagan counters with a left to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Fresh forces Flanagan back against the cage and clinches.
Fresh tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Flanagan's elbow.
Fresh wants to get back to striking at distance but Flanagan won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flanagan lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Fresh backwards.
Fresh tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Walter Flanagan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thor Fresh.
Fresh tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Fresh jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Flanagan walks away with a smile on his face. Fresh gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Fresh misses with a takedown
and Flanagan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Fresh takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fresh shoots in for a takedown but Flanagan shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A chopping leg kick lands by Fresh.
Flanagan circles away from the clinch attempt
and Flanagan counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fresh lands with a kick to the ribs.
Fresh doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Flanagan counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Fresh shoots for a takedown but Flanagan saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Fresh shoots for a takedown but Flanagan saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Flanagan appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Fresh with a poor takedown
and Flanagan counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Fresh thinking.
Fresh misses with a takedown
and Flanagan counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Fresh thinking.
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!
Fresh fails with the takedown
and Flanagan counters with a two punch combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fresh doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Fresh takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Fresh throws a sloppy head kick
and Flanagan counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Fresh doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Flanagan counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Fresh shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Flanagan pinned against the cage. Flanagan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Flanagan drops down looking for a counter takedown but Fresh sprawls and moves away.
Fresh wants to clinch but Flanagan slips to the side
and Flanagan counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Flanagan seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Fresh doesn't manage to clinch there - Flanagan circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flanagan defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Fresh.
Flanagan changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Fresh tries to clinch but Flanagan moves away
and Flanagan counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Fresh throws a poor cross that misses
and Flanagan counters with a straight right hand.
Fresh closes the distance looking to clinch
and Flanagan counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Fresh wants to clinch but Flanagan slips to the side
and Flanagan counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fresh fails with a takedown attempt.
Flanagan changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

And that's the end of the fight!
Walter Flanagan showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Flanagan has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Walter Flanagan!
Walter Flanagan decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.