PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Terry Thunder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Freeman (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
Freeman

225 cm
20
290 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

150 cm
25
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Good low kicks
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Terry Thunder!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joe Freeman!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Hugh Johnson and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Freeman moves to clinch but Thunder breaks away

and Thunder counters with a takedown into side control.
Freeman tries to bench press Thunder off him but Thunder keeps the position.
Thunder will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Thunder tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Freeman tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Freeman is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Thunder asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Freeman keeping his opponent close.

Thunder working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freeman tries to bench press Thunder off him but Thunder keeps the position.
Thunder working away.
Freeman is holding Thunder down, trying to stall.
Freeman is looking for a sweep.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Freeman can do anything to dispel that myth.

Thunder decides to stand back up.

Freeman closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Thunder kicks Freeman off and gets back to his feet.
Thunder misses with a takedown

and Freeman counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Thunder is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Thunder looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Still in half guard, Freeman seems content to control.
The fighters are battling for position here. Thunder manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Freeman decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Thunder, up you get!

Freeman looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Thunder!
Freeman tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freeman landing punches.
Freeman tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Thunder tries to reverse the position but Freeman maintains control.
Freeman controlling from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thunder can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freeman wants to take Thunder's back here but Thunder is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Freeman scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Freeman tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Thunder defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Freeman.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Freeman breaks from Thunder's wrist control and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Freeman 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.

Freeman has closed the distance and engaged Thunder in a clinch.
Freeman's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Thunder lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Joe Freeman has been cut.
Thunder tries to break the clinch but Freeman is controlling the position.
Freeman can't get the takedown.
Freeman tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Thunder smiles and moves away.
Freeman stuffs the takedown.
Thunder shoots in and drives through. Freeman sprawls well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunder dives in and grabs Freeman's left leg, looking for a takedown. Freeman pushes down on Thunder's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Terry Thunder. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Freeman instigates a clinch.
Freeman is trying to drag Thunder to the mat but Thunder just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Thunder tries to break the clinch but Freeman is controlling the position.
A frustrated look appears on Thunder's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Freeman is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Thunder can't fight it off and eventually Freeman manages to take the fight to the floor. Thunder looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Thunder is looking to stand up but Freeman isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freeman seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Freeman is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Freeman wants to stand but Thunder has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Freeman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thunder is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thunder looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Freeman looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Freeman is looking to stand up but Thunder won't let him.

That's four 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.
Thunder throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Freeman looking to pass the guard.

Joe Freeman has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Thunder tries to sprawl but Freeman drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Freeman is thwarting Thunder's attempts to control the position.
Freeman really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Thunder. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Freeman is figuring out what he wants to do next.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Freeman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Joe Freeman's cut.
That's time! Thunder's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Freeman misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Freeman stuffs the takedown attempt from Thunder. Thunder gets slowly back to his feet.
Thunder misses with a takedown attempt

and Freeman counters with a nice double leg into side control. Thunder won't be happy with that.
Thunder is looking for a sweep.
Freeman scores with punches from side control.
Freeman lands an elbow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Freeman tries to advance to mount but Thunder denies him.
Freeman tries to stand but Thunder is controlling his head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freeman is staying tight to Thunder's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Thunder struggling a bit here.
Freeman in side control lands a decent elbow.
Joe Freeman has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thunder pushes Freeman away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Freeman gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Freeman tries for a kimura but Thunder is defending well.
Freeman controls the position.
Freeman's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Freeman is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Thunder has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thunder explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Freeman shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Thunder sprawls well. Thunder wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Freeman gets slowly back to his feet.
Thunder fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Terry Thunder. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thunder avoids the head kick by Freeman.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freeman stuffs the takedown.
Freeman tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Thunder manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Thunder circles away from the clinch attempt.
Freeman throws a sloppy head kick and Thunder moves out of range easily.
Thunder moves in looking to clinch but Freeman pushes him off.
Freeman throws a series of punches but Thunder moves out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Freeman closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Terry Thunder has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joe Freeman is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Freeman wants to stand but Thunder is controlling his arm.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Freeman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Freeman has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Freeman!