PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Bolleke (ranked 697 p4p, 1367 weight class) and Alphonzo Mirage (ranked 104 p4p, 202 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Bolleke
vs
Mirage

195 cm
34
205
27 - 11 - 2

191 cm
38
212
30 - 19 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

Conviction

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 27 - 11 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thomas Bolleke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alphonzo Mirage!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Andrew Berry and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bolleke misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mirage.
Some wild striking there from Bolleke.
Bolleke throws a body punch but Mirage moves out of range.
The fighters circle momentarily. Bolleke darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Bolleke lands the left hand.
The fighters circling - Bolleke throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Mirage doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Bolleke cracks Mirage with an open hand slap.
Bolleke with a lazy takedown attempt
and Mirage connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bolleke throws a sloppy body shot
letting Mirage counter with a right hand.
Bolleke connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Mirage throws a leg kick but Bolleke moved away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mirage throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bolleke misses with a right hand
and Mirage counters with a slapping leg kick.
Bolleke cracks a nice hook into Mirage's ribs.
Mirage gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Bolleke counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Mirage!
Mirage seems a little lost for a moment, as Bolleke dominates the positioning.
Mirage takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Bolleke throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Mirage holds on to Bolleke's head and controls the position momentarily.
Bolleke is looking to take a break and control but Mirage is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bolleke definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Bolleke misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Mirage wants to control but Bolleke postures up.
Mirage is looking to regain half guard here but Bolleke keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bolleke is looking to take a break and control but Mirage is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mirage tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bolleke cracks Mirage with a big elbow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bolleke prevents Mirage from escaping the position.
Mirage is not content to let Bolleke control the position.
Mirage tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mirage can't do much from the bottom here.
Mirage looking for a sweep but Bolleke has passed into full mount! Oh no!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mirage bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Mirage is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Mirage won't allow Bolleke to sweep him here.
Bolleke being controlled here, momentarily.
Mirage looking to pass the guard.
Bolleke is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Bolleke 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.
Mirage 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bolleke has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mirage can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Mirage sitting in guard here, content to control.
Bolleke looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mirage is one step ahead there.
Mirage trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Bolleke dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Mirage lands a jab to the nose.
Bolleke swings widly with a right hand
and Mirage counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Bolleke works Mirage's body with a nice hook.
Jab, jab by Bolleke - just one landing.
Mirage uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bolleke.
Mirage takes a jab right on the kisser.
Mirage scores with a hook to the body. Bolleke takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Thomas Bolleke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bolleke drops his hands momentarily and Mirage takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Thomas Bolleke is winning the standup battle so far.
Mirage looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Bolleke fails with the takedown
and Mirage counters with a lovely shot to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mirage looks to land a left hand but Bolleke moved out of range nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bolleke throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bolleke moves out of range as Mirage strikes.
Mirage walks into a jab.
Mirage throws a looping overhand right but Bolleke ducks down to avoid it.
Jab, jab by Mirage - just one landing.
Bolleke throws a lazy uppercut
and Mirage counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Mirage ducks under a wild hook from Bolleke.
Bolleke cracks a nice hook into Mirage's ribs.
Bolleke takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Bolleke bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Mirage has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Bolleke finds it's way round the side to connect with Mirage's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Mirage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mirage just misses with a punch to the body.
Mirage just misses with a punch to the body.
A little feinted left hand from Bolleke on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Bolleke misses with an uppercut.
Mirage flicks out a counter leg kick but Bolleke steps away.
Bolleke connects with a jab.
Mirage keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Bolleke.
Bolleke throws a big shot that misses.
Mirage leaves Bolleke with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Bolleke misses with a left hand
enabling Mirage to counter with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bolleke cracks Mirage with a right hand to the side of the head.
Bolleke cracks a nice hook into Mirage's ribs.
Mirage stuffs the takedown attempt from Bolleke. 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.
Bolleke ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mirage moves away.
A left lands for Bolleke.
Bolleke misses with a hook
and Mirage connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Bolleke misses the jab.
Bolleke throws a hook but Mirage blocks it.
And Mirage responds with a good body kick, but Bolleke manages to step out the way in time.
Mirage tries a head kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good work by Bolleke as he checks the leg kick.
Bolleke throwing a counter right hand but Mirage manages to avoid it.
Mirage paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Mirage throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Bolleke drives through with a takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bolleke works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Bolleke prevents Mirage from improving his position.
Mirage controlling the position well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mirage wants to get back to full guard.
Mirage is not content to let Bolleke control the position.
Mirage wants to get back to full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Alphonzo Mirage will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Bolleke avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Bolleke defending well as Mirage loads up on a big left hand.
Bolleke throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Mirage counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Mirage throws a leg kick but Bolleke moved away.
Mirage lands a right hook to the body.
Mirage connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Mirage blocks a jab.
Bolleke misses the jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bolleke throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
It seemed like Mirage was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Bolleke avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Bolleke with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Mirage to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bolleke bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Mirage's head.
Bolleke lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Bolleke changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mirage tries to avoid it but Bolleke manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mirage to the ground. Mirage escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Bolleke changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Bolleke takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Bolleke throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Bolleke lands a body shot.
Bolleke connects with a single shot there.
Bolleke lands with a straight right. Mirage didn't see that one coming.
Bolleke misses with a series of wild punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mirage with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Bolleke to score with a decent uppercut.
Bolleke looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Mirage follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thomas Bolleke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mirage ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Bolleke lands a jab to Mirage's midsection.
Mirage on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Bolleke loads up on a big right hand but Mirage slips the punch.
Bolleke checks the leg kick nicely there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Bolleke misses.
Bolleke throws a jab when Mirage was well out of range.
Bolleke misses with a right hand
and Mirage cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Bolleke misses with a body punch
enabling Mirage to counter with a crisp jab.
Bolleke throws a jab when Mirage was well out of range.
Bolleke uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Mirage lands an overhand right.
Bolleke misses with a straight left.
Bolleke throws a jab when Mirage was well out of range.
A countering left hand to the body from Mirage misses.
Mirage throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mirage throws a lazy right hand but Bolleke sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bolleke is looking to counter punch.
Mirage takes one to the chin there.
Bolleke loads up on a big right hand but Mirage slips the punch.
Mirage is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Bolleke with a body shot.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Mirage.
Mirage has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bolleke dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Mirage pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Mirage has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Mirage there as he acknowledges the shot.
Mirage misses with a hook.
Mirage throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Mirage stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Bolleke!
Our winner, Thomas Bolleke, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.