PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between JT Thunder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Scott Free (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Thunder
vs
Free

170 cm
18
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Russian Experiments

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, JT Thunder!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Scott Free!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Alan Glass and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thunder closes this distance looking for a takedown but Free circles away.
Free fails with the takedown

and Thunder counters with a single leg into guard. Free didn't expect that.
Thunder postures up in Free's guard and throws a big left but Free blocks it.
Free not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Thunder drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Free dives on top into guard.
Thunder looking to control.
Thunder 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.
Thunder is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thunder keeping full guard, as Free tries to pass.
Free trying to control the position from guard on top but Thunder is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Free tries to free his leg and advance position but Thunder is retaining full guard.
Thunder throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Thunder striking off his back but it's not causing Free any problems.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Free doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Thunder counters with a nice double leg into side control. Free won't be happy with that.
Thunder wants to lay and pray for a moment but Free keeps working.
Free is looking to regain half guard here but Thunder keeps moving and retains side control.
Free can't do much from the bottom here.
Thunder is trying to move to mount but Free reverses beautifully and ends up in Thunder's guard.
Free must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Thunder trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thunder throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Thunder is breathing heavily.
Thunder keeping moving, preventing Free from controlling successfully.
Free is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Thunder escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Free gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Free working some strikes from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thunder wants to sweep but no luck.
Free sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Thunder's guard.
Free working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Free lands strikes from half guard.
Thunder might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The fighters are battling for position here. Thunder manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Thunder tries to land a sweep but no joy.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Thunder holds on and takes a little breather.
Thunder working a defensive guard here.

Thunder is looking for a triangle but Free pushes his legs off easily.
Thunder looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thunder doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Thunder wants to sweep here but Free controlling him for the moment.

Thunder is looking for a triangle here but Free uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Thunder is looking for a sweep.
Thunder sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Free prevents Thunder from standing back up.
Free wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thunder keeps working.
Thunder desperately trying to maintain half guard.

Thunder looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JT 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.

Free misses with a takedown

and Thunder counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Free!
Thunder can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Free is looking to escape.

Thunder jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Free manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Thunder tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Thunder is looking to take a break and control but Free is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Free is breathing heavily.
Free is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Free is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Free is looking to reverse the position.
Thunder advances to mount.
Thunder working Free over with strikes here.
Free is squirming around, avoiding Thunder's attempts to control the action.
Thunder looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Free is squirming around, avoiding Thunder's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thunder is trying to take his opponent's back.
Free sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Thunder trying to control from Free's half guard. Free has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Thunder wants to pass the guard but Free is keeping the position.
Thunder trying to control but Free is working from the bottom.
Free working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thunder.
Free throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
JT Thunder overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thunder chips away with some ground and pound.
Thunder trying to control but Free is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Free doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Thunder counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Free keeping moving, preventing Thunder from controlling successfully.
Free lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Thunder!
Free sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Free putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thunder is looking to improve his position but Free isn't that keen on the idea.
Free with good strikes from the mount here!
Thunder is squirming around, avoiding Free's attempts to control the action.
Free punishing his opponent with strikes.

Thunder is rocked!
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!
Free landing strikes from the mount.
Oh Thunder is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

It looks like JT Thunder has been cut.

Free has control of Thunder's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Thunder regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Free breaks from Thunder's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thunder wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Scott Free will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on JT Thunder's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Thunder looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Thunder seems to have got his legs back now.
Free throws a right and a left that Thunder avoids nicely.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Free.
Free keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Free scores with a takedown into Thunder's guard.
Free advances position into side control!
Thunder manages to work his way to half guard, despite Free's best efforts.
Free takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Thunder gets full guard.

Free avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Free controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Free won't allow Thunder to sweep him here.
Thunder looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Thunder is looking for a triangle but Free pushes his legs off easily.

Thunder throws his legs up looking for a submission but Free uses it to pass to side control.
Thunder gets back to half guard.

Thunder looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Thunder controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Free wants to free his trapped foot but Thunder is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Thunder looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Thunder is trying to get back to full guard.
Thunder wants to control but Free is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Thunder wants to get back to full guard.
Thunder moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Thunder seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Free gets to his feet. Thunder looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Thunder doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Free holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for JT Thunder. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Free lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Thunder.

Free has picked Thunder up - he's going for a ride! Free dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Thunder is refusing to be controlled, as Free sits in half guard.
Thunder is trying to maintain the position but Free is very close to passing his half guard.
Thunder is trying to get back to full guard.
Free tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Thunder.
Free is trying to control the action in half guard but Thunder is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thunder trying to control here.
Thunder gets back to full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Free accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Thunder shoots in and bounces Free off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Thunder pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Free is keeping the position for now.
Free trying to keep a closed guard but Thunder is proving a slippery customer.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Scott Free.
I think Free has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Scott Free!