PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Franklin Shark (ranked 3795 p4p, 2910 weight class) and Alexei Thorgard (ranked 409 p4p, 335 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Shark
vs
Thorgard

225 cm
20
265
1 - 2 - 0

195 cm
19
280
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Dangerous GnP
Counter fighter
Heavy handed

Champion Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Franklin Shark!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Alexei Thorgard!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Wesley Smith and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Shark. Thorgard does a little dance to reset his feet.
Shark cracks Thorgard with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

It looks like Alexei Thorgard has been cut.

Shark drops his shoulder and cracks Thorgard with a huge uppercut! Thorgard goes down! Can Shark finish him?

Thorgard is rocked!
Shark wants to get up but he can't break Thorgard's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Thorgard controlling the position.
Shark wants to control from the top but Thorgard keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thorgard controlling the position.
Shark pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thorgard is keeping the position for now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shark throws a strike but Thorgard rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Shark holds on and takes a little breather.
Shark keeping moving, preventing Thorgard from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thorgard postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Thorgard working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Shark's head.
Thorgard is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Shark on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Shark tries to get out of the position.
Thorgard stands up over Shark, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Thorgard has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Shark avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Thorgard content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Thorgard loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Shark utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Thorgard throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Shark works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Shark working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thorgard.
Thorgard trying to control but Shark is working from the bottom.
Thorgard looking to pass the guard.
Thorgard is in close to Shark's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Shark controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Thorgard's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Shark trying to control the position here.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Thorgard scoring with punches to the head and body.
Shark will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Shark is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Thorgard throws a big right hand that misses.
Thorgard distracts Shark with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Thorgard content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Shark bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Thorgard's guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thorgard 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.
Shark wants to stand and escape but instead Thorgard has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Thorgard stands up over Shark, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shark is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Shark preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Thorgard trying to control the position from guard on top but Shark is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shark is looking to stand up but Thorgard isn't so interested in that idea.
Thorgard distracts Shark with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Shark is rocked!

It looks like Franklin Shark has been cut.
Thorgard postures up, still in guard. A huge hammer fist lands that bounces Shark's head off the mat! Shark is out! He's out! Thorgard jumps to his feet and celebrates with his corner!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:47 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Alexei Thorgard!
Alexei Thorgard seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.