PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sundar Thapa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Orlando Sax (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sax is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Solonen & Kosola - Kolmetoista Kertaa Kovempi Ku Kukaan . I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Thapa
vs
Sax

187 cm
25
245 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

196 cm
23
274 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160

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 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sundar Thapa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Orlando Sax!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Paul Gruel and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sax uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thapa.
Thapa throws a hook to the side of Sax's head but Sax sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Sax has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Thapa throws a right hand that misses

and Sax counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Thapa's guard now.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Sax throwing strikes but missing.
Sax trying to control the position from guard on top but Thapa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sax with a flurry of punches that miss.
Thapa seems keen to control Sax's posture.
Thapa wants to sweep but no luck.
Sax has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Thapa is proving hard to escape from.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Thapa holds on and takes a little breather.
Sax with a flurry of punches that miss.

Thapa escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sax gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sax scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thapa avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Thapa trying to keep a closed guard but Sax is proving a slippery customer.
Sax lands a couple of digs.
Thapa 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.
Thapa looking to control.
Thapa preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sax wants to control from the top but Thapa keeps moving.
Thapa preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thapa pulls Sax in close to prevent any damage.

Thapa has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sax can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Thapa keeping moving, preventing Sax from controlling successfully.
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!
Sax loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Thapa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sax trying to control the position from guard on top but Thapa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thapa wants to sweep but no luck.
Sax landing some decent shots from guard.
Thapa 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sax trying to control but Thapa is working from the bottom.
Sax postures up and lands a big shot to Thapa's brow.
Thapa is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sax loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sax wants to control from the top but Thapa keeps moving.
Thapa is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sax pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thapa is keeping the position for now.
Thapa looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Sax forces Thapa back against the ropes and clinches.
Thapa has Sax pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Sax manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Thapa has Sax pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Sax manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Thapa has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sax is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sundar Thapa. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sax lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sax throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Sax looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Sax scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
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. Sax connects with a nice short shot to Thapa's temple.
Thapa avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sax.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Orlando Sax dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sax uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thapa.
Thapa tries a head kick but it misses.

Sax darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Sax scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Thapa gets back to full guard.
Sax throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Thapa 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.
Sax trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Orlando Sax has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sax passes Thapa's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Sax working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sax scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Sax working the head and body with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, if Sax is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Sax is looking to stall here but Thapa recovers full guard.
Sax landing with the ground and pound.
Sax missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sax loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Thapa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Thapa keeping moving, preventing Sax from controlling successfully.
Thapa wants to sweep here but Sax controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sax postures up.
Sax chips away with some ground and pound.

Thapa has his foot on Sax's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sax works his way back into a safe position though.
Sax trying to control but Thapa is working from the bottom.
Thapa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Thapa bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sax's guard.
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!
Thapa in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sax working a defensive guard here.
Thapa works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Thapa throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thapa is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Thapa working the head and body with strikes.
Thapa prevents Sax from improving his position.

Thapa is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Thapa prevents Sax from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thapa trying to pass the guard but Sax defending well.
Sax is not content to let Thapa control the position.

Thapa is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thapa tries to pass the half guard into mount. Sax knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Orlando Sax 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! This is the final round!

Thapa throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Both fighters circling a little - Thapa finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Thapa tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Sax defends well and Thapa ends up having to push Sax into the ropes where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Sax stops a takedown attempt from Thapa.

Sax lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Thapa is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sax's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sax's back!
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!

Thapa patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Thapa scores with strikes from the back.
Sax trying to control the hands but Thapa breaks the grip.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thapa missing with strikes from the back.
Sax tries to escape but Thapa has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Sax turns into Thapa and is now in his guard.
Sax throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sax trying to control the position from guard on top but Thapa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thapa looking for a sweep. Not yet Thapa, not yet.
Sax keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Thapa's head.
Sax is looking to work some ground and pound but Thapa has wrist control.
Sax loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sax working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Thapa's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thapa trying to control the position.
Sax with a nice head shot there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thapa looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sax is one step ahead there.
Sax cracks Thapa with a solid left hand.
Sax lands a couple of elbows.

Thapa is rocked!
Sax postures up from his opponent's guard, before exploding into some vicious ground and pound! Thapa covers up, he's hurt! Sax keeps throwing the strikes, glancing at the referee... Will he stop it?? One more big shot from Sax and the ref steps in to end the fight! Sax can't hide his delight as he celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:52 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Orlando Sax!