PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thorsten Taunsynd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kimo Rice (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taunsynd comes to the cage accompanied by PRIDE THEME. Thorsten Taunsynd could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Kimo Rice's chin.

Taunsynd
vs
Rice

190 cm
19
250 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
21
245 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thorsten Taunsynd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kimo Rice!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Stewart Dunkirk and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rice misses with a few strikes there.
Nice jab there from Rice.

It looks like Thorsten Taunsynd has been cut.
Rice tries to bum rush Taunsynd with a series of wild strikes but Taunsynd uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rice loads up on a big right hand but Taunsynd slips the punch.
Rice avoids the body shot from Taunsynd.
Rice takes a swing at Taunsynd's ribcage but misses.
Rice misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rice throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rice lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rice misses with a two punch combination.
Rice will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Taunsynd goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Taunsynd throws a leg kick but Rice sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Taunsynd shoots in looking for a takedown. Rice tries to sprawl out of it but Taunsynd keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rice manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taunsynd looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A nice leg kick lands there from Taunsynd.
Taunsynd throws a head kick but Rice moves out of range.
Taunsynd throws a body kick that misses.

Taunsynd clinches up with Rice and pushes him back against the cage.

Taunsynd breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rice throws a left that rocks Taunsynd and follows with a right that sends him tumbling to the canvas! Rice dives into side control, looking to finish! Can Taunsynd regain composure!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taunsynd is looking for a sweep.
Rice tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taunsynd is looking for a sweep.
Rice tries to stand but Taunsynd is controlling his head.
Taunsynd manages to get back to half guard.
Taunsynd is breathing heavily.
Taunsynd is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are battling for position here. Taunsynd manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taunsynd is looking for a triangle but Rice pushes his legs off easily.
Rice has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Taunsynd is proving hard to escape from.
Rice won't allow Taunsynd to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Taunsynd has his foot on Rice's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rice works his way back into a safe position though.

Taunsynd has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rice can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Taunsynd is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rice is looking to stand up but Taunsynd won't let him.

Taunsynd throws his legs up looking for a submission but Rice uses it to pass to side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taunsynd is trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kimo Rice dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Thorsten Taunsynd's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Taunsynd on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A punch combination from Rice misses.
Taunsynd with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Rice fails to land with a series of punches.
Rice throws a nice looking combination but Taunsynd bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Taunsynd scoring well with a low kick there.
Taunsynd lands a head kick. Rice smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

It looks like Kimo Rice has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rice avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Taunsynd clinches up against the cage.

Taunsynd pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Taunsynd scores with a leg kick.
Kimo Rice seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taunsynd tries to clinch up.
Kimo Rice seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Taunsynd pushes Rice up against the cage in a clinch.

Taunsynd breaks the clinch.
Rice throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kimo Rice is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Taunsynd throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Taunsynd misses with a hook to the body
and Rice counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Taunsynd shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Taunsynd showed some decent athleticism there.

Taunsynd is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Taunsynd is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Rice has managed to free his arm - good work.

Taunsynd is trying to work for a kimura but Rice is defending well.

Taunsynd is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rice won't allow Taunsynd to pass to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rice is trying to stand.
Taunsynd wants to pass the guard but Rice is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Taunsynd is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rice misses with a jab, cross combination.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Rice!
Rice throws a right hand that Taunsynd ducks under and follows up with a left that Taunsynd also avoids with ease.
Rice checks a low kick from Taunsynd.

Taunsynd darts in and clinches Rice up against the cage.
Rice wants to get back to striking at distance but Taunsynd won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thorsten Taunsynd dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Taunsynd scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Nice shot lands for Rice.
Taunsynd displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rice throws out the jab.
Rice fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Taunsynd on the side of the head.
Taunsynd takes a swing at Rice's ribcage but misses.
A punch combination from Rice misses.

Taunsynd closes the distance and clinches.

Taunsynd escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A slow jab from Rice misses its intended target.
Taunsynd throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Rice stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Taunsynd lands a nice looking body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taunsynd fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Rice sprawls well initially but Taunsynd persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Rice wants to stand back up but Taunsynd manages to pass into side control.

Taunsynd is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rice has escaped the position, nice work there.

Taunsynd stands up.
Taunsynd has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taunsynd looks for a takedown but Rice sprawls well.
Taunsynd takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Rice misses with the combination.
Taunsynd misses with a head kick.
Rice lands a jab to the head.
A combination from Rice does no damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rice steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Taunsynd. That one must have hurt.
Rice throws a right and a left that Taunsynd avoids nicely.
Rice fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Taunsynd manages to avoid it.
Taunsynd shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rice swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Taunsynd counters with a nice uppercut.
Rice throws a hook but Taunsynd avoids it easily.
Rice scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Rice misses with a hook.
Rice circles away from the clinch attempt.
Taunsynd could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Taunsynd throws a leg kick which misses Rice's front leg but catches the back leg as Rice tries to avoid it.

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.
Rice checks a leg kick.
Kimo Rice is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Taunsynd swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A cross from Rice lands.
Rice fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rice throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rice listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Rice blocks a head kick by Taunsynd.
Taunsynd is looking to wear down Rice with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Rice moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taunsynd tries to clinch up.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Thorsten Taunsynd.
I think Taunsynd has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thorsten Taunsynd!