PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Danny Francis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dave Thunder (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.

Francis
vs
Thunder

190 cm
18
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
22
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Danny Francis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Dave Thunder!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Chris Edwards and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Francis throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thunder.
Francis throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Francis throws a nice looking combination but Thunder bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Francis misses with a two punch combination.
Thunder is looking to land body kicks.
Some wild striking there from Francis.
Thunder slips a jab and a cross from Francis.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thunder avoids a punch combination nicely.
Francis swinging wilding here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunder fails with the takedown.
Thunder has a takedown stuffed.
Danny Francis is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Thunder closes the distance and clinches.
Francis is working for takedown but Thunder is calmly controlling the position for now.
Francis is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Thunder wants to break free but Francis has control.
Francis drops down looking for an ankle pick but Thunder pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Danny Francis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thunder looks for a takedown but Francis sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Francis throws a nice looking combination but Thunder bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Dave Thunder seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Francis throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thunder.
Francis fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Francis is breathing heavily.
Thunder tries to clinch but Francis moves out of range.
Thunder has a takedown stuffed.
Nice takedown defense from Francis. No joy for Thunder on that attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Francis fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Thunder showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Francis.
Francis throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Thunder.
Francis takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Thunder scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Thunder circles away from the clinch attempt.
Thunder fails with a takedown attempt.
Some wild striking there from Francis.
Francis throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thunder.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Francis misses with a two punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Danny Francis will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Thunder closes the distance and clinches up with Francis, looking for a takedown. Thunder pushes Francis against the cage but Francis circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
No joy there for Thunder, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Francis closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Francis prevents the takedown attempt.
Thunder looking to slow down the pace here.
Francis has Thunder pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Thunder manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Thunder should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Thunder prevents the takedown attempt.
Francis wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Thunder has him pressed against the cage.

Francis is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Thunder can't fight it off and eventually Francis manages to take the fight to the floor. Thunder looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Francis thows a big elbow that misses.
Thunder keeping full guard, as Francis tries to pass.
Thunder is controlling Francis's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Francis looking to pass the guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Francis postures up in Thunder's guard and throws a big left but Thunder blocks it.
Francis throws and elbow that misses. Thunder uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Francis's guard. Nice move by Thunder!
Francis throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Francis looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Francis throws a combination that misses
and Thunder counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Thunder looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Francis is fending him off so far but Thunder persists. Nope, Francis circles away and we're back to standing.
Danny Francis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dave Thunder.
Thunder looks for a takedown but Francis sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Francis swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

so Thunder counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Thunder stopping the sweep attempt from Francis.
Francis keeping moving, preventing Thunder from controlling successfully.
Thunder landing with the ground and pound.
Francis throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Francis 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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thunder accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Francis throws a combination that misses
and Thunder cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Danny Francis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Francis throws a left and a right that both miss
letting Thunder counter with a right hand.
Francis tries to close the distance and clinch up but Thunder swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Francis misses with a double jab
and Thunder counters with a good low kick that Francis was not able to check.
Francis fails in his attempt to clinch.
Francis throws a combination that misses
and Thunder counters with a low kick, right behind Francis 's knee.
Thunder tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Francis counters with a one-two to the body.
Francis throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Thunder counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Thunder lands with a slapping head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thunder shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Francis as he avoids it easily.
Francis misses with a double jab
and Thunder counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Thunder shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Francis counters with a one-two to the body.
Thunder goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thunder darts in trying to clinch

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
and Francis holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave Thunder showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Francis keeps the fight on the outside.
Thunder shoots for a double leg takedown but Francis sprawls well. He's pushed Thunder's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Thunder shoots in but no luck this time.
Francis keeps the fight on the outside.
Francis misses with a double jab
and Thunder counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thunder connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Thunder has eaten all the pies!
Thunder misses with an attempted mid kick.
Francis misses with a combination
and Thunder counters with a solid body kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Francis misses with a double jab
enabling Thunder to counter with a crisp jab.
Francis misses with a double jab
and Thunder counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Thunder misses with a takedown attempt - Francis sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Danny Francis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dave Thunder.
Thunder fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Thunder tries a head kick but it misses.
Thunder looks for a takedown but Francis sprawls well.
Francis misses with a double jab
and Thunder counters with a one-two to the body.
Thunder with a lazy takedown attempt
and Francis counters with a three punch combo that has Thunder backing up. Thunder nods at Francis to acknowledge the strikes.
Dave Thunder seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Thunder tries to clinch up.
Thunder gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Francis counters with a three punch combo that has Thunder backing up. Thunder nods at Francis to acknowledge the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Francis misses with a two punch combination.
Thunder tries to clinch but Francis is having none of it.
Thunder gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Francis counters with a stiff right hand.
Thunder fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Francis stuffs the takedown attempt from Thunder. Thunder gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Francis misses with a series of wild punches.
Thunder has a takedown stuffed.
Francis swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thunder throws a right hand that Francis ducks under and follows up with a left that Francis also avoids with ease.
Francis throws a combination that misses

and Thunder counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Francis's guard now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dave Thunder comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Thunder 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dave Thunder!