PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Negreanu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lars Thunstrom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Negreanu's entrance music is Make Her Say - Kid Cudi. A fine choice. Thunstrom comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Prodigy - Spitfire kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! 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.

Negreanu
vs
Thunstrom

177 cm
26
183 lbs
15 - 6 - 0

160 cm
25
170 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Hell's Balls Fightwear

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 15 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Daniel Negreanu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Lars Thunstrom!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Ivan Kurochkin and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thunstrom swats away the attempt to clinch by Negreanu.
Thunstrom throws an off balance right hand
and Negreanu counters with a good low kick that Thunstrom was not able to check.
Thunstrom misses with a body shot
and Negreanu counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Thunstrom has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Negreanu finds it's way round the side to connect with Thunstrom's head.
Negreanu lands with a kick to the temple. Thunstrom shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Negreanu takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunstrom throws a lazy uppercut
and Negreanu counters with a nice kick to the body.
Negreanu goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Thunstrom falls off balance throwing a combination
and Negreanu counters with a good low kick that Thunstrom was not able to check.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thunstrom throws a right hand that misses
and Negreanu makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Negreanu lands a high kick!
Negreanu misses with a body kick.
Thunstrom misses with a straight left.
Negreanu moves out of range of the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Negreanu throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Daniel Negreanu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Negreanu swings away with a body shot that misses
and Negreanu takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Thunstrom throws a lazy uppercut
and Negreanu counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Thunstrom throws a predictable looking body shot
and Negreanu counters with a nice kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thunstrom misses with a lunging right hand
and Thunstrom takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Thunstrom rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Negreanu moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Negreanu connects with an inside leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thunstrom throws a combination that misses
and Negreanu counters with a stiff right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Negreanu dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Thunstrom throws a combination that misses
and Negreanu counters with a nice low kick that buckles Thunstrom's knee momentarily.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Negreanu feints and then cracks Thunstrom's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Thunstrom down.

Thunstrom closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Negreanu's guard.

Thunstrom thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Negreanu wants to sweep here but Thunstrom controlling him for the moment.
Negreanu will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Thunstrom passes Negreanu's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thunstrom is looking for a kimura but Negreanu is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Thunstrom to get the leverage.
Thunstrom wants to lay and pray for a moment but Negreanu keeps working.
Negreanu controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Thunstrom trying to mount his opponent but Negreanu defends it.

Thunstrom looking for a submission but Negreanu manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
Thunstrom trying to control the position from guard on top but Negreanu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Negreanu seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's two 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.
Thunstrom wants to pass the guard but Negreanu is keeping the position.
Negreanu 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.
Thunstrom tries to free his leg and advance position but Negreanu is retaining full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Negreanu lands a nice looking body kick.
Negreanu doesn't manage to clinch there - Thunstrom circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thunstrom throws a predictable looking body shot
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Daniel Negreanu is winning the standup battle so far.
Thunstrom moves out of range as Negreanu throws a body kick.
Thunstrom scores with a three punch combo!
Thunstrom blocks a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thunstrom misses with a double jab
and Thunstrom takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Negreanu throws a good cross that connects.
Negreanu misses with a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Negreanu dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Thunstrom misses with a right hand
and Negreanu counters with a nice low kick that buckles Thunstrom's knee momentarily.
Negreanu moves out of range of the strikes.
Thunstrom moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Negreanu.
Thunstrom has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Negreanu finds it's way round the side to connect with Thunstrom's head.
Negreanu is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunstrom misses with a left hand
and Negreanu counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Thunstrom misses with a left hand
and Negreanu cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Thunstrom takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Thunstrom throws a lazy uppercut
and Negreanu counters with a nice low kick that buckles Thunstrom's knee momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thunstrom throws an off balance right hand
and Negreanu counters with a nice kick to the body.
Negreanu tries to close the distance and clinch but Thunstrom swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Thunstrom ducks under a wild hook from Negreanu.
Negreanu throws a push kick but Thunstrom slaps the foot to one side.
Daniel Negreanu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thunstrom rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Negreanu counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Negreanu.
Nice body punch from Negreanu - that landed with a thud.
Negreanu slowing the pace effectively.
Thunstrom tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Negreanu just stands there and leans against the cage.
A hook to the body from Negreanu.
Negreanu pressing his opponent against the cage.
Thunstrom tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Thunstrom can't find room to land a body shot as Negreanu controls the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The referee calls for Negreanu to work.
Negreanu lands with a short shot to the head.
Thunstrom tries to stall but Negreanu uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Lars Thunstrom has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thunstrom lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Negreanu.
Negreanu holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Negreanu working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Thunstrom stalling in the clinch but Negreanu improves position.
Thunstrom is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Thunstrom struggles to land a body shot inside as Negreanu controls his hands.
Thunstrom struggles to land a body shot inside as Negreanu controls his hands.
Negreanu blocks a body shot from Thunstrom.

Thunstrom pulls guard successfully.

Thunstrom looking for a guillotine here but Negreanu defends easily.
Negreanu stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thunstrom swivels though and keeps the full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daniel Negreanu showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Negreanu, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daniel Negreanu!