PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lars Thunstrom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Jr Harchuk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Thunstrom
vs
Jr Harchuk

160 cm
20
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

195 cm
21
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Lars Thunstrom!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jack Jr Harchuk!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Sergei Dronov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thunstrom is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Harchuk's half guard.

Thunstrom is looking for a kimura but Harchuk is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Thunstrom to get the leverage.
Thunstrom could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Thunstrom is working for a submission of some sort.

Thunstrom is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Thunstrom is looking for a kimura here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harchuk manages to get to full guard.
Thunstrom might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Harchuk keeping full guard, as Thunstrom tries to pass.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Thunstrom drops back, looking for a kneebar! Harchuk looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Harchuk looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Harchuk!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Thunstrom stops Harchuk from passing to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thunstrom looking for a sweep but Harchuk has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Thunstrom sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Thunstrom is looking to improve his position.

Harchuk is trying to work for a kimura but Thunstrom is defending well.

Thunstrom is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Harchuk pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thunstrom actively working from the bottom here.

Thunstrom looking for subs from the bottom but Harchuk mounts him!
Thunstrom is breathing heavily.
Thunstrom gets back to half guard.

Thunstrom looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Thunstrom looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Harchuk stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thunstrom shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Harchuk sprawls well. Harchuk wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Thunstrom gets slowly back to his feet.
Thunstrom shoots in but no luck this time.
Harchuk is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Harchuk paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Thunstrom scores a takedown into full mount!

Thunstrom moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Harchuk has worked his arm free - good work by Harchuk!

Thunstrom goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Harchuk has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Thunstrom but great work by Harchuk.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Lars Thunstrom will probably get the nod.
That's time! Thunstrom's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Harchuk tries to clinch but Thunstrom moves out of range.
Thunstrom shoots in but Harchuk avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Thunstrom drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Thunstrom drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Harchuk dives on top into guard.

Thunstrom looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Harchuk passes Thunstrom's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Thunstrom is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Harchuk pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Harchuk wants to stand up but Thunstrom has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thunstrom is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Harchuk pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are battling for position here. Thunstrom manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Thunstrom can't keep his opponent in guard - Harchuk advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Thunstrom won't allow Harchuk to pass to mount.

Thunstrom looking for submissions off his back.

Harchuk is looking for a kimura but Thunstrom is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Harchuk to get the leverage.

Thunstrom is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Harchuk pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Harchuk tries to pass the half guard into mount. Thunstrom knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Harchuk is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Thunstrom manages to get to full guard.
Thunstrom looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Harchuk puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Thunstrom looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Thunstrom with the active half guard here but Harchuk passes nicely into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thunstrom is trying to improve his position.

Harchuk decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Thunstrom shoots for a takedown but Harchuk saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Thunstrom decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Thunstrom is working for a kimura but Harchuk is defending it quite comfortably.

Harchuk looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thunstrom looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Thunstrom is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jack Jr Harchuk will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Harchuk shoots in and drives through. Thunstrom sprawls well.

Thunstrom shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Thunstrom is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Harchuk is just riding it out for now. Thunstrom eventually gives up the hold.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Harchuk is defending against the submission attempts here by Thunstrom.
Lars Thunstrom overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Thunstrom seems to be working for a kimura but Harchuk defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Harchuk is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Thunstrom is looking for a kimura here.
Thunstrom is looking to advance position but Harchuk won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thunstrom is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Harchuk tries to get to full guard but Thunstrom has control of the leg.

Thunstrom is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Thunstrom seems to be looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Thunstrom is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Harchuk is just riding it out for now. Thunstrom eventually gives up the hold.

Thunstrom is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Harchuk looks like he's trying to stand up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lars Thunstrom showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Thunstrom 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Lars Thunstrom!