PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Distant Thunder (ranked 2289 p4p, 2113 weight class) and John McCain (ranked 136 p4p, 127 weight class). Thunder's entrance music is For Heavy Metal we will die!. A fine choice. McCain has chosen Anywhere I Go as his entrance music. 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.

Thunder
vs
McCain

171 cm
30
143
11 - 9 - 1

166 cm
31
140
13 - 8 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Heavy Metal Drugs

Fenrir Fightgear - Anno 2013
PWNAGE™

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Distant Thunder!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, John McCain!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thunder has managed to clinch.
McCain misses with a short punch on the inside.
Thunder gets through McCain's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Thunder lands with a short punch from the clinch.
McCain wants to break the clinch but can't.

Thunder's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thunder feints and then cracks McCain's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow McCain down.
Thunder scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Distant Thunder seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McCain fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
McCain circles away from the clinch attempt.

Thunder takes the fight into the clinch.
McCain looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
McCain tries to break the clinch but Thunder is controlling the position.

Thunder's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jab, jab by Thunder - just one landing.
McCain moves out of range as Thunder strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McCain throws a lazy right hand but Thunder sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
The crowd cheers as Thunder lands an impressive looking overhand right. McCain doesn't seem phased though.
Thunder throws a jab when McCain was well out of range.
A slow jab from McCain misses its intended target.
A slapping leg kick lands for Thunder.
Thunder connects with a good right hand that stumbles McCain. McCain circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
A chopping leg kick lands by Thunder.
Thunder checks a leg kick.
Thunder uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCain misses with a hook.
Thunder is looking to counter with head kicks.
Thunder fails with an attempt to clinch.
John McCain is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A slow jab from McCain misses its intended target.
We've been hearing reports that Thunder has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
McCain scores with a shot to the body.
McCain thows a left - swing and a miss!
McCain rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Thunder moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Thunder slips a straight right by McCain.
Thunder thinks about countering with a body kick.
McCain checks a leg kick.
Thunder lands a body shot.
Thunder throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Thunder connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Thunder feints and as McCain raises his hands in defense, Thunder changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Thunder trying to control the position from guard on top but McCain is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thunder stops McCain from standing up.
Thunder passes McCain's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McCain wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McCain pushes Thunder off and gets back to his feet.
A big left from Thunder misses.
Thunder lands a jab to the nose.
Thunder tries to close the distance and clinch but McCain swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Thunder throws a shot from downtown. McCain moves away and avoids it.
Thunder throws a low kick but it's checked well by McCain.
Thunder slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
A nice leg kick lands there from Thunder.
McCain misses with an uppercut.
Thunder misses with a looping right.

Thunder fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with McCain, pushing him back against the cage.
Thunder's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

McCain's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thunder scores with a nice body kick.
McCain takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Thunder.
Thunder steps to the side to avoid the strikes from McCain.
Thunder wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCain does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
McCain takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts McCain, as that shot connected.
Thunder smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Thunder tries to clinch up.
The fighters circling - Thunder throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
McCain darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
McCain digs a good body shot into Thunder's ribs.
Thunder takes a kick to the side of the head.
McCain throws the left hand but Thunder avoids the punch easily.
A nice inside leg kick there by McCain. That's going to slow Thunder down.
Thunder is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
McCain throws the left hand but Thunder avoids the punch easily.
Thunder misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
McCain takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thunder wants to clinch up but McCain keeps it at a distance.
Thunder misses with a straight right.
Thunder blocks a low kick nicely.
McCain throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCain misses with a looping left.
Thunder lands a jab-cross combination.
A big right from Thunder misses.
Thunder tries to close the distance and clinch up but McCain swats him away and circles back towards the center.
No joy there for McCain, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
McCain pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
McCain misses with an uppercut.
Thunder tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McCain was well out of range. Poor timing from Thunder.
McCain scores with a kick to the midsection.
Thunder attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Thunder thows a left - swing and a miss!
McCain uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Thunder.
McCain misses with an uppercut.
No joy there for McCain, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A right-left combo lands from Thunder.
Thunder moves out of range as McCain strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
An inside leg kick lands from Thunder.
Thunder throws a shot from downtown. McCain moves away and avoids it.
Thunder misses with an uppercut.
McCain's corner calls for a 1-2. McCain obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Good leg kick by Thunder.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Distant Thunder dominated that round.
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.

McCain misses with a straight left.

McCain tries to sprawl but Thunder drives through with a takedown into half guard.
McCain is trying to stand up here but Thunder is controlling him well.

McCain manages to escape and get back to his feet!
McCain throws a head kick but Thunder moves out of range.
Distant Thunder is winning the standup battle so far.
McCain throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Thunder is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McCain can do to turn this around?
McCain bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Thunder's head.

Thunder closes the distance and clinches.
McCain is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Thunder is keeping busy.
McCain dodges an elbow strike from Thunder.

Thunder's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thunder fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
McCain bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Thunder's head.
A leg kick checked by Thunder.
McCain throws a leg kick but Thunder moved away.
Thunder tests McCain's chin there with a solid looking shot.
McCain punishes Thunder's body with a nice straight punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunder swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Thunder slips under a jab from McCain.
Thunder tries to clinch but McCain is having none of it.
Thunder connects with an inside leg kick.
McCain swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
McCain slips a jab from Thunder.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from McCain! But no joy.
McCain takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Thunder doesn't manage to clinch there - McCain circles away.
Thunder checks a leg kick.
McCain's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Good work by McCain as he checks the leg kick.
McCain walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
McCain throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A big left from Thunder misses.
McCain bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Thunder's head backwards.
Thunder throws the left hand but McCain avoids the punch easily.
McCain avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A left lands for Thunder.
Thunder blocks a jab.
Thunder explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
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!
Thunder steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from McCain. That one must have hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thunder throws a leg kick but McCain sees it coming and moves out of range.
McCain throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
McCain looks to land a left hand but Thunder moved out of range nicely.
McCain misses with a body shot.

Thunder closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Thunder lands in his opponent's guard.
McCain throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Thunder trying to control but McCain is working from the bottom.
Thunder prevents McCain from getting back to his feet.
Thunder trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McCain has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Thunder off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Thunder moves in looking to clinch but McCain pushes him off.
Nice defenses there by McCain.
McCain throws out a counter right but Thunder avoids it with no problem.
Thunder throws a series of punches but McCain avoids them all with ease.
Thunder checks a leg kick nicely.
McCain throws a body punch but Thunder moves out of range.
McCain misses with a low kick.
McCain with a body punch. A glancing blow.
McCain slips under a jab.
Thunder uses good head movement to avoid the hook from McCain.
Thunder fires out a quick counter leg kick but McCain just manages to avoid it.
Thunder misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
McCain throws a jab when Thunder was well out of range.
Thunder connects with a good right hand that stumbles McCain. McCain circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Thunder gets cracked there but stands up to it.
McCain throws a lazy right hand but Thunder sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Thunder is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McCain wants to slow Thunder down by chopping away at his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thunder fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and McCain has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Thunder with a hook.
Thunder connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Some bone on bone action there as Thunder checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Good leg kick by Thunder.
A solid leg kick lands there for Thunder.
Thunder gets cracked with a nice right hand there by McCain.
Thunder's hands are dropping dangerously low here and McCain connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Thunder scrambles back to his feet.
McCain goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Thunder misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
McCain takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Thunder feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits McCains jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
McCain throws out a leg kick but Thunder moves out of range and McCain only half commits.
Thunder fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A punch combination from McCain misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nice body punch from McCain.
Thunder wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Thunder blocks a jab.
McCain tries a head kick but it misses.
Thunder staying out of range there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but John McCain will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Thunder turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
McCain throws a body shot but no joy.
McCain thumps Thunder with a low kick.
Thunder throws a quick inside leg kick.
McCain is looking to chop away at Thunder's legs.
Thunder stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from McCain.
Thunder uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McCain.
Thunder connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
McCain throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Thunder sees it coming and avoids it easily.
McCain has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

Thunder darts in and clinches McCain up against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Thunder.
McCain tries to work over Thunder's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Thunder scores with a shoulder strike.
Thunder lands an uppercut.
Thunder keeps the fight in the clinch, despite McCain's efforts to push away.
Thunder tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
McCain wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Thunder has him pressed against the cage.

Thunder tightens his grip and picks McCain up, before dumping him to the ground. McCain manages to land in guard.

McCain pushes Thunder off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCain lands with a hook. Thunder tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
McCain lands with an overhand left.

Thunder closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. McCain did well to prevent Thunder getting side control.
McCain wants to get back to his feet.
McCain tries to kick Thunder off in order to stand up. Thunder Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.

Thunder is trying to get an arm triangle but McCain is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thunder trying to control the action but McCain is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCain wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Thunder wants to take a breather but McCain manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Thunder.
McCain is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Thunder is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thunder passes McCain's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
McCain is staying active underneath Thunder, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
McCain pushes Thunder off but Thunder dives into side control.
McCain is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Thunder has just dragged him back down to the mat.
McCain is not content to let Thunder control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
McCain takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

Thunder instigates a clinch.
Thunder lands on the inside with an uppercut.
McCain is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Thunder working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Thunder lands an uppercut.

Thunder breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
McCain defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Thunder.
Thunder tries to move into range but McCain moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
McCain scores with a jab. Thunder acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Thunder lands a straight punch to the body, keeping McCain at a distance.
Thunder ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McCain moves away.
Thunder moves in looking to clinch but McCain pushes him off.
McCain looks to land a left hand but Thunder moved out of range nicely.
Thunder sizes up McCain with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
McCain pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
McCain tests Thunder's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A swing and a miss from Thunder.

And that's the end of the fight!
Distant Thunder showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Thunder 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Distant Thunder!
An out of breath Distant Thunder thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.