PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thumbo Plights (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damian Bratcher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thumbo Plights has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Plights
vs
Bratcher

206 cm
25
268 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

192 cm
25
210 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)
KAISER

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Thumbo Plights!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Damian Bratcher!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Tarja Halkonen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Plights takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Plights takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Bratcher rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Plights moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Bratcher lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Plights shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Plights tries to clinch up.

Plights shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Plights will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Plights looks to land a strike but Bratcher avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Plights trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bratcher is trying to keep Plights in close.
Plights stays in close to Bratcher's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Plights wants to pass the guard but Bratcher is keeping the position.
Plights preventing the sweep.
Plights looking to pass the guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Plights shoots in and drives through. Bratcher sprawls well.
Bratcher scores with a nice strike.
Bratcher lands with a nice body punch.
Plights on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Bratcher wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Plights looks to throw a body kick
and Bratcher counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bratcher throws a good cross that connects.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bratcher tries to close the distance and clinch but Plights swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bratcher lands a nice leg kick that just misses Plights's sensitive parts.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Bratcher, right into the meat.
Bratcher fails with an attempt to clinch.
Plights shoots in looking for a takedown but Bratcher manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Plights's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thumbo Plights. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bratcher is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bratcher cracks Plights with a right hand to the side of the head.
Plights takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Bratcher connects with a right hand. Plights shakes it off.
Bratcher lands a nice leg kick that just misses Plights's sensitive parts.
Plights takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Plights misses with a takedown attempt - Bratcher sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Plights is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bratcher digs a good body shot into Plights's ribs.

Bratcher drives through and clinches with Plights against the cage.
Bratcher tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Bratcher gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Plights.
Bratcher has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Bratcher tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Plights avoids it.
Plights is looking for a takedown.
Bratcher is trying to break free.
Bratcher trying to land knees to the body.
Bratcher missing with knees to the body.
Bratcher lands a knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bratcher gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Plights.
Bratcher tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Plights avoids it.
Plights is looking to take this one to the mat.
Plights drops down looking for an ankle pick but Bratcher pulls his leg out and moves away.
Damian Bratcher seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bratcher changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Bratcher is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Plights rather than just go for the knockout.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A chopping leg kick lands by Bratcher.
Plights fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bratcher connects with the punch.
Bratcher misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damian Bratcher dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Bratcher with a nice cross.
Bratcher throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Plights's waist but Plights gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bratcher off to one side.
Thumbo Plights is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bratcher is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A solid leg kick lands there for Bratcher.
The fighters circle momentarily. Bratcher darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
The fighters circle momentarily. Bratcher darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Plights fails with a takedown attempt.
Bratcher is looking to slow Plights down with leg kicks.

Bratcher has managed to clinch.
Bratcher will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Plights up against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Plights tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bratcher gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Plights.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thumbo Plights. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Plights drops down looking for an ankle pick but Bratcher pulls his leg out and moves away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Plights has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Plights there as he acknowledges the shot.
Bratcher tries to clinch up.
Bratcher fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Plights.
Plights shoots in but no luck this time.
Bratcher moves in looking to clinch but Plights pushes him off.
Bratcher scores with the left hand. Plights knows he should have avoided that one.
Nice sprawl there from Bratcher as Plights shoots in.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Plights shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bratcher sprawls well. Bratcher wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Plights gets slowly back to his feet.
Bratcher is looking to clinch.
Bratcher tries to clinch but Plights moves out of range.
Bratcher cracks a nice hook into Plights's ribs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Plights takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Bratcher fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bratcher with a hook.
Bratcher has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bratcher paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
A slapping leg kick lands for Bratcher.
Bratcher lands a head kick!

It looks like Thumbo Plights has been cut.
Bratcher fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Bratcher shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Plights sprawls well. Plights wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bratcher gets slowly back to his feet.
Plights is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bratcher rushes Plights and presses him up against the cage.
Plights looking to stall.

Plights lands a takedown into guard.
Bratcher wants to sweep here but Plights controlling him for the moment.
Bratcher is trying to keep Plights in close.
Bratcher wants to sweep here but Plights controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bratcher controls Plights momentarily but Plights frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Damian Bratcher wasn't active enough on the ground.
Plights tries to clinch there but Bratcher circles away.
Damian Bratcher seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Plights takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Bratcher lands a head shot.
Plights fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Bratcher looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Plights moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bratcher misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Bratcher connects with a body shot that sends Plights's belly button to the back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damian Bratcher showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Thumbo Plights's cut.
That's time! Plights's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Plights decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Plights trying to mount his opponent but Bratcher defends it.

Plights wants to work for an arm triangle but Bratcher is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Bratcher is holding on to half guard well.
Plights wants to control but Bratcher is keeping him busy.
Plights tries to pass the half guard into mount. Bratcher knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Plights is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Plights controlling the action here.
Bratcher wants to control but Plights is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Plights is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Bratcher wants to control but Plights is keeping busy.
Bratcher is staying active underneath Plights, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Bratcher won't allow Plights to pass to mount.

Plights has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Bratcher defend it? Plights steps over the head and cranks it - Bratcher is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Plights!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Thumbo Plights!
During a confident post fight interview, Thumbo Plights thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.