PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Desperado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabe Thurgood (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Anthony Desperado could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Gabe Thurgood's chin.

Desperado
vs
Thurgood

180 cm
37
180 lbs
16 - 6 - 0

186 cm
34
186 lbs
22 - 15 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

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 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Anthony Desperado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gabe Thurgood!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thurgood instigates a clinch.
Thurgood changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Desperado fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Desperado ducks right into an uppercut from Thurgood.
Thurgood tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The fighters circling - Desperado throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Thurgood scores with a jab to the jaw.

It looks like Anthony Desperado has been cut.
Desperado throws a solid leg kick but Thurgood takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Desperado.
Thurgood shoots for a takedown but Desperado saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Thurgood fails with a takedown attempt.
Anthony Desperado has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gabe Thurgood.
Thurgood pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gabe Thurgood seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thurgood bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Desperado misses the shot to the body.
Thurgood fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Thurgood dives in and grabs Desperado's left leg, looking for a takedown. Desperado pushes down on Thurgood's head and hops out.
Desperado dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thurgood stuns Desperado with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Desperado on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Desperado throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Desperado tried to score with a low kick but Thurgood checks it.
Thurgood pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Desperado back to the cage. Thurgood follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Desperado smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Thurgood tries to land a front kick but Desperado steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Thurgood darts in and clinches Desperado up against the cage.
Thurgood lands a hook that snaps the head of Desperado backwards.
Thurgood tries a knee to the head but Desperado blocks it.
Desperado misses with a punch to the body.
Desperado blocks an elbow strike from Thurgood.
Thurgood blocks an uppercut.
Thurgood wants to stall.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Thurgood as Desperado tries to tie him up.
Desperado is struggling to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thurgood lands with a short head shot on the inside.
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!
Desperado fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Thurgood digs a right hand underneath Desperado's ribcage. Desperado let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Thurgood is looking to take this one to the mat.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Desperado lands a body shot.
Thurgood lands with a light punch inside.
Desperado trying to control the position but instead, Thurgood has worked for underhooks and has pushed Desperado into the cage.
Desperado misses with a hook to the ribs.
Thurgood scores with a shot to the side of Desperado's head.
Thurgood misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Desperado.
Thurgood lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Thurgood works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thurgood with a nice head shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thurgood wants to control from the top but Desperado keeps moving.
Thurgood throwing strikes from guard but Desperado blocks nicely.
Thurgood stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Desperado swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Thurgood with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Thurgood trying to control the position from guard on top but Desperado is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thurgood postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Desperado not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Thurgood has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thurgood with a flurry of punches that miss.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Desperado preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Thurgood working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Desperado is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Thurgood is controlling him.
Thurgood throwing strikes from guard but Desperado blocks nicely.
Thurgood wants to pass the guard but Desperado is keeping the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Thurgood is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Desperado looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Thurgood puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabe Thurgood dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Anthony Desperado's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Thurgood fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Desperado has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Thurgood jabs Desperado to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Desperado scores with a nice strike.
Thurgood shoots in but no luck this time.
Desperado pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Desperado misses with a series of wild punches.
Thurgood swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Thurgood takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Thurgood throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Desperado scores with a leg kick.

Thurgood clinches up with Desperado and pushes him back against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thurgood lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Thurgood pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Thurgood throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Desperado tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick by Desperado misses
and Thurgood counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Desperado thinking.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thurgood connects with a body shot.
Thurgood scores with the left hand. Desperado knows he should have avoided that one.
Desperado takes a swing at Thurgood's ribcage but misses.

Thurgood shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Thurgood sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Desperado's guard.
Thurgood not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thurgood takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Thurgood is working for a submission of some sort.
Thurgood trying to control the action but Desperado is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thurgood winds up and cracks Desperado with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Thurgood connects with a nice short shot to Desperado's temple.
Thurgood misses with a head shot. Desperado uses the momentum to regain guard.
Thurgood postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Thurgood trying to control the position from guard on top but Desperado is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thurgood throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Desperado works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thurgood landing with the ground and pound.
Desperado looking for a sweep. Not yet Desperado, not yet.
Gabe Thurgood has got the better of the ground game so far.
Desperado has momentary wrist control but Thurgood slips an elbow through the middle.

Thurgood thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Thurgood lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Thurgood stops Desperado from standing up.
Thurgood stands and throws Desperado's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Thurgood wants to control but Desperado is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thurgood throws an elbow but Desperado slips to the side and avoids it well.
Thurgood throws a strike aimed at the side of Desperado's head but Desperado avoids it well.
Desperado is trying to get back to his feet.
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!
Thurgood trying to control the position but Desperado is working away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thurgood moves into full mount!
Thurgood scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Desperado?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabe Thurgood showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Anthony Desperado's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Thurgood.
Thurgood connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Thurgood lands a nice hook to Desperado's body. Desperado takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Thurgood lands with a good body shot.
Thurgood lands the left hand.
Desperado paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Desperado gets caught by a big overhand right and goes down! Thurgood gets on top of him and starts throwing some serious punches until the ref intervenes and stops the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:29 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Gabe Thurgood!
Gabe Thurgood tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.