PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Franz Nicholas (ranked 3467 p4p, 3147 weight class) and Pan Thongrak (ranked 412 p4p, 380 weight class). Thongrak has chosen Muay Thai Traditional as his entrance music. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Nicholas
vs
Thongrak

190 cm
24
265
5 - 9 - 0

184 cm
28
220
3 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Fast

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 5 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Franz Nicholas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pan Thongrak!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Igor Prikhodko and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nicholas misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thongrak.
We've been told by Nicholas's head coaches at New York Public Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Nice body kick from Thongrak.
Thongrak throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Thongrak takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Nicholas rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Thongrak moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Thongrak looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Nicholas throws a hook but Thongrak avoids it easily.
Thongrak's jab looks to have found its range, popping Nicholas under the eye.
Some wild striking there from Thongrak.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nicholas. Thongrak does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nicholas fails to land with a series of punches.
Nicholas takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thongrak swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nicholas connects with a body shot that sends Thongrak's belly button to the back.
Nicholas getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Thongrak throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nicholas. Thongrak does a little dance to reset his feet.
Thongrak bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Thongrak fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Nicholas scores with a jab to the head.
Thongrak jabs at Nicholas's body.
Thongrak blocks a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicholas misses with a shot to the body
and Thongrak counters with a stiff right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nicholas lands an overhand right.
Nicholas throws a left and a right that both miss
and Thongrak counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Thongrak tries to land a body kick
and Nicholas connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Thongrak is rocked!
Franz Nicholas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thongrak throws a leg kick
and Nicholas counters with a beautiful right hand that knocks Thongrak out cold! What a finish! Nicholas is going crazy, running around the mat, summersaulting off the corner posts and screaming into the cameras. Something tells me he's pretty happy!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:30 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Franz Nicholas!