PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jeff Thorn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Howell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Thorn
vs
Howell

203 cm
26
250 lbs
9 - 2 - 1

200 cm
24
255 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Jeff Thorn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Josh Howell!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Summer Carpenter and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howell tries a head kick but it misses.
Howell throws a series of punches but Thorn avoids them all with ease.
Howell takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Thorn throws and low kick but Howell moves out of range easily.
Howell staying out of range there.
Thorn throws the left hand but Howell avoids the punch easily.
Thorn cracks Howell with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Howell shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Thorn as he avoids it easily.
Thorn moves into range and connects with a jab.
Thorn throws a front kick aimed at Howell's knee but Howell avoids it well.
Thorn throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Thorn throws out a loose jab but Howell uses good head movement to avoid it.
Howell moves out of range as Thorn strikes.
A swing and a miss from Thorn.
Howell displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Thorn throws out the jab.
Howell throws a sloppy head kick and Thorn moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Howell.
Thorn throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Howell looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Thorn is fending him off so far but Howell persists. Nope, Thorn circles away and we're back to standing.
Jeff Thorn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Howell.
Howell swings away with a body shot that misses
and Thorn connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Thorn takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Thorn lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Thorn fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Howell looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Howell changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Thorn tries to avoid it but Howell manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Thorn to the ground. Thorn escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Thorn throws a body punch but Howell moves out of range.
Thorn cracks a nice hook into Howell's ribs.
Thorn comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Howell on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Thorn turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Thorn moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thorn throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Howell counters with a takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Howell is looking to take a break and control but Thorn is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Thorn is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Howell tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Thorn is looking to regain half guard here but Howell keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howell wants to stand but Thorn has his arm trapped.
Howell controlling from side mount.
Thorn is pushing Howell's head away, looking to escape. Howell manages to hold on to the position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Thorn tried to score with a low kick but Howell checks it.
Howell takes a jab right on the kisser.
Thorn is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Howell fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Thorn avoids it really well and circles away.
Howell moves out of range as Thorn strikes.
Thorn moves out of range of the strikes.
Horrible takedown by Howell or perhaps it was just good defense by Thorn which made him look bad.
Howell clinches but Thorn breaks the clinch
and Thorn counters with a good low kick that Howell was not able to check.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeff Thorn dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Thorn throws the left hand but Howell avoids the punch easily.
Thorn jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Howell misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Thorn misses with a hook. Howell ducked under it nicely.
Howell shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Thorn defends it nicely.
Thorn misses with a straight right.
Thorn throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Howell slips a jab from Thorn.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thorn chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Howell tries to move into range but Thorn moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Howell with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Thorn counter with a right hand.
Howell looks for a takedown but Thorn sprawls well.
Jeff Thorn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Howell.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howell tries to land a leg kick but Thorn saw it coming and moves away.
Howell gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Howell takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Howell bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Howell pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Thorn stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Thorn wants it to stay on the feet.
Howell fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
An inside leg kick from Howell misses.
Howell walks into a straight right hand from Thorn.
Thorn tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Howell misses with a shot to the body
and Thorn counters with a good low kick that Howell was not able to check.
Thorn leaves Howell with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howell takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Thorn swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Thorn avoids the head kick by Howell.
Jeff Thorn is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Howell misses the shot to the body.
Thorn cracks Howell with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Howell closes this distance looking for a takedown but Thorn circles away.
Thorn keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thorn throws a big shot that misses.
Thorn blocks a head kick by Howell.
Thorn throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Howell misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Thorn keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thorn throws a good cross that connects.
Thorn fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Howell.
Thorn lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Howell is breathing heavily.
Thorn scores with a leg kick.
Thorn throws an overhand right that lands on Howell's shoulder, as Howell tries to avoid the shot.
Thorn jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Thorn throws a looping overhand right but Howell ducks down to avoid it.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Thorn is looking to chop away at Howell's legs.
Howell is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Howell moves forwards but Thorn connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Thorn lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howell misses with a head kick.
Howell keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Howell scoring well with a low kick there.
Thorn throws a hook but Howell blocks it.
Thorn digs a good body shot into Howell's ribs.

Howell closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Thorn did well to prevent Howell getting side control.
Howell stops Thorn from getting back to his feet.
Thorn is looking for a sweep. Howell is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Thorn controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeff Thorn dominated that second round.
That's time! Thorn's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Thorn displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Howell.

Howell looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Thorn pushes Howell off looking to stand but Howell dives back in and keeps control.
Howell missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Thorn is looking to improve his position.
Howell trying to mount his opponent but Thorn defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howell is thwarting Thorn's attempts to control the position.
Howell is trying to control. Thorn wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Thorn wants to control but Howell is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Thorn makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's two 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.
Thorn walks into a straight right hand from Howell.
Thorn clobbers Howell with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Howell shoots for a double leg takedown but Thorn sprawls well. He's pushed Howell's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Thorn feints and then cracks Howell's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Howell down.
Howell loads up on a big right hand but Thorn slips the punch.
Howell lands with an uppercut that bounces Thorn off the cage and back into rage.
A head kick misses from Howell.
Howell avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Horrible takedown by Howell or perhaps it was just good defense by Thorn which made him look bad.
Jeff Thorn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Howell.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Thorn lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Howell has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Howell and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Howell checks a leg kick.
Howell takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Thorn lands with a hook. Howell tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Howell is looking to clinch.
Howell throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Howell misses with a takedown attempt - Thorn sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Thorn throws a hook but Howell blocks it.
A telegraphed right hand from Thorn misses the target.
A decent looking cross lands there for Thorn.
Thorn throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Howell misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Howell ducks under a wild hook from Thorn.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Thorn lands an impressive looking overhand right. Howell doesn't seem phased though.
Howell walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Thorn scores with a crisp jab that stopped Howell in his tracks.
Howell avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Howell takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Thorn leaves Howell with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A head kick by Howell misses
and Thorn counters with a thumping low kick.
Howell shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Thorn counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Howell takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Thorn!
Good exchange - Thorn coming out on top.
Howell ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thorn moves away.
Josh Howell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A decent looking cross lands there for Thorn.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jeff Thorn showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Thorn, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 John Mangel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jeff Thorn!