PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joseph Bruce (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thumbo Plights (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thumbo Plights will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Bruce
vs
Plights

190 cm
25
230 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

206 cm
27
268 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Likes comics

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Sparta Fightware
xXx Clothing (Nothing Over $20)

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)
RVCA

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Joseph Bruce!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Thumbo Plights!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Roger Salmon and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bruce misses with a wild body shot.

Plights gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Plights wants to take the fight to the mat but Bruce manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Bruce tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Bruce is trying to force a seperation but Plights has the dominant position.

Bruce breaks the clinch.
Bruce fails in his attempt to clinch.

Bruce rushes Plights and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Plights has Bruce pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Bruce manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Plights is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Joseph Bruce has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thumbo Plights.
Plights drops down looking for an ankle pick but Bruce pulls his leg out and moves away.

Plights forces Bruce back against the cage and clinches.

Bruce breaks from the clinch.

Bruce moves into the clinch successfully.
Plights keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Bruce's efforts to push away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Plights avoiding damage as Bruce throws knees to the body.
Bruce looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Bruce pulls guard successfully.
Plights is pushing down on Bruce's leg trying to pass to half guard. Bruce is fighting to maintain full guard but Plights has managed to sneak the leg through.
Plights is thwarting Bruce's attempts to control the position.
Bruce pushes Plights off looking to stand but Plights dives back in and keeps control.
Bruce taking some punishment here, with Plights in his half guard.
Plights is keen to just control but Bruce is a slippery customer.
Bruce wants to get back to his feet.
Bruce is trying to escape back to his feet but Plights uses the scramble to pass into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Plights scoring with punches from side control.
Plights has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Bruce is trying to improve his position.
Plights tries to move to mount but Bruce blocks the move with his legs.
Bruce dodges the ground and pound from Plights.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bruce can't do much from the bottom here.
Bruce might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Plights is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Bruce is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Plights in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Plights looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Bruce is not content to let Plights control the position.
Plights advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bruce keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Plights looking to secure an arm triangle but Bruce defends it well.
Plights lands with some strikes.
Bruce is trying desperately to improve position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Plights trying to control but Bruce is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thumbo Plights dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nice body punch from Bruce.
Bruce fails to land with a series of punches.
Plights connects with a looping right hand.
Bruce scores with a punch to the head.
Bruce wants to clinch.
Plights uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Bruce has time to react.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bruce doesn't manage to clinch there - Plights circles away.

Plights drives through with a takedown into guard.
Plights postures up.
Plights trying to control but Bruce is working from the bottom.
Plights postures up in Bruce's guard and throws a big left but Bruce blocks it.
Bruce knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Plights on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Plights working some strikes from top position.

Plights drops back looking for a leg! Bruce is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bruce manages to kick Plights off! Plights jumps back into Bruce's guard.

Plights gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Plights ducks under a wild hook from Bruce.
Plights takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

It looks like Thumbo Plights has been cut.

Plights closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Bruce is looking to control Plights's arms but Plights gets an underhook and turns him. Now Bruce has his back to the cage.
Plights can't get the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Plights tries for a takedown but Bruce manages to get underhooks.

Plights gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bruce trying to control but Plights postures up.
Plights is trying to control. Bruce wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Plights prevents Bruce from standing back up.
Bruce trying to control here.

Plights is working for a kimura but Bruce is defending it quite comfortably.
Bruce is not content to let Plights control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bruce is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Plights's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Plights's back!
Plights trying to get back to his feet but Bruce is in full control for now.

Bruce is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Plights defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Plights manages to stand up with Bruce still on his back. Eventually Bruce drops to his feet and we're back in the standing position.

Plights looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Bruce!
Plights working the ground and pound from side control.

Plights tries for a kimura but Bruce is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bruce is trying to work for a sweep but Plights has mounted him!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Plights scoring with strikes but Bruce is staying in there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thumbo Plights 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! Bruce's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Bruce misses with a combination
and Plights counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Plights fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Bruce is looking to clinch but Plights is avoiding it.
Bruce lands with a thumping leg kick.
Bruce tries to clinch up but Plights circles away and keeps his distance.
Bruce tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Plights counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Bruce's guard now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Plights wants to control from the top but Bruce keeps moving.
Bruce avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Plights 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.
Bruce avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Plights throws a big right hand that misses.
Bruce working a defensive guard here.

Plights drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Plights jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Plights advances to half guard.
Bruce wants to get back to full guard.
Joseph Bruce has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Plights wants to work for an arm triangle but Bruce is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Plights is keen to just control but Bruce is a slippery customer.
Plights winds up and cracks Bruce with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Bruce avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Plights.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Plights landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Plights is looking for a kimura but Bruce is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Plights to get the leverage.
Bruce missing with punches from the bottom.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Plights seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bruce does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Plights is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Bruce has managed to free his arm - good work.
Plights is trying to control. Bruce wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Thumbo Plights is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Plights stalling.
Plights is thwarting Bruce's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Plights passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Bruce!
Plights controlling his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Plights is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Bruce has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Bruce!

And that's the end of the fight!
Thumbo Plights comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Plights winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thumbo Plights!
A relieved looking Thumbo Plights thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.