PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Thorpe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Abbles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Thorpe
vs
Abbles

179 cm
20
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Good knees
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Anthony Thorpe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Abbles!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thorpe wants to clinch
and Abbles counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Abbles cracks Thorpe with an open hand slap.

Abbles fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Thorpe, pushing him back against the cage.
Thorpe misses with a knee strike.
Thorpe jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Abbles walks away with a smile on his face. Thorpe gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Thorpe tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Abbles counters with a takedown into side control.
Thorpe is looking for a sweep.
A lull in the action here as Abbles stalls from top position.
Thorpe tries to buck Abbles off but Abbles is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thorpe is working hard here to advance position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Abbles is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Thorpe manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

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

Thorpe is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Abbles doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Thorpe.
Abbles is looking to improve his position.

That's two 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.

Thorpe is looking for a kimura but Abbles is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Thorpe to get the leverage.

Thorpe is trying to work for a kimura but Abbles is defending well.

Thorpe is working for a kimura but Abbles is defending it quite comfortably.

Thorpe is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Abbles has his hands clasped together around Thorpe's back. He's all about the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thorpe is looking for a kimura here.

Thorpe 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.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Abbles can do anything to dispel that myth.
Abbles is looking for a sweep. Thorpe is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

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.

Thorpe is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Abbles really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Thorpe. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Abbles is trying to get back to full guard.

Thorpe is working for a kimura but Abbles is defending it quite comfortably.
Abbles is concentrating on defense, preventing Thorpe from advancing position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Abbles dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Thorpe tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Abbles holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Thorpe tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Abbles tries to stall but Thorpe uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Abbles has a couple of punches blocked by Thorpe.
Thorpe tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Abbles just stands there and leans against the cage.
Thorpe with a knee to the head.
Thorpe trying to land knees to the body.
Abbles is trying to push Thorpe away but Thorpe has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Abbles misses with an elbow strike.
Thorpe trying to land knees to the body.
Thorpe trying to land knees to the body.
Thorpe misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Abbles.
Thorpe misses with a knee strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thorpe tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Abbles tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Thorpe avoids it.
Thorpe tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Thorpe misses with a knee strike.
Thorpe looking to throw knees to the head but Abbles is blocking nicely.
Thorpe tries to land a knee to the head but Abbles blocks with his arms.
Abbles trying to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thorpe with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Abbles misses with an elbow over the top.
Thorpe misses with a knee strike.
Thorpe misses with a knee strike.
Thorpe with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Thorpe tries to pull guard but Abbles won't allow it.

Thorpe pulls guard successfully.
Abbles slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Thorpe escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Abbles gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Abbles stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thorpe swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Thorpe is looking for a triangle but Abbles pushes his legs off easily.
Abbles trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Abbles slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Thorpe is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Thorpe working for a triangle but Abbles defends it easily.
Abbles tries to free his leg and advance position but Thorpe is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abbles engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Thorpe working for a triangle but Abbles defends it easily.

Thorpe throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Abbles sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thorpe working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Abbles doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Abbles manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Thorpe looking for a guillotine here but Abbles defends easily.

Thorpe is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Abbles stays in close to Thorpe's body and controls the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Thorpe escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Abbles gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Thorpe dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Abbles fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Abbles circles away from the clinch attempt

and Abbles counters with a nice double leg into side control. Thorpe won't be happy with that.
A lull in the action here as Abbles stalls from top position.
Thorpe is looking to regain half guard here but Abbles keeps moving and retains side control.
Thorpe sneaks back into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thorpe looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Thorpe actively working from the bottom here.

Thorpe looking for submissions off his back.

Thorpe looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Abbles controlling the action here.

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.
Thorpe manages to get to full guard.
Abbles chips away with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Abbles is posturing up here but Thorpe has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Abbles tries to roll out but it's too tight and Abbles has to tap! Slick submission there by Thorpe!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:03 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Anthony Thorpe!