PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Demian Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Thornton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thornton has chosen Depeche Mode - Enjoy The Silence as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Maia
vs
Thornton

185 cm
23
185 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

182 cm
29
182 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Demian Maia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Matt Thornton!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maia tries for a takedown but Thornton circles away easily

and Thornton counters with a takedown into side control.
Maia is looking to regain half guard here but Thornton keeps moving and retains side control.
Maia gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Thornton passes to full mount!
Thornton lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Thornton trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Thornton lands a big elbow.
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!
Maia tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Thornton putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Maia is rocked!
Maia swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

Thornton is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Maia is surviving well by controlling Thornton's body position as best he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thornton with shots to the head and body - Maia looks very uncomfortable down there.
Oh Maia is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Thornton is landing with some decent strikes but Maia is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Thornton looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Maia regains half guard.
Thornton wants to pass to mount but Maia is defending the position.
Maia seems to have got his legs back now.
Maia is refusing to be controlled, as Thornton sits in half guard.
Thornton sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Maia defending well though.
Maia regains full guard. Nicely done.

Maia throws his legs up looking for a submission but Thornton uses it to pass to side control.
The ground and pound from Thornton seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thornton working the head and body with strikes.
Maia is working to avoid the ground and pound but Thornton connects with a decent elbow.
Maia is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Maia wants to control but Thornton postures up.
Maia regains half guard, as Thornton was trying to land strikes.
The fighters are battling for position here. Maia manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Thornton tries to free his leg and advance position but Maia is retaining full 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!
Thornton postures up.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Maia is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Thornton is aware though and is defending well.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thornton accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Maia keeping full guard, as Thornton tries to pass.
Thornton is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thornton avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Maia is breathing heavily.
Thornton trying to control but Maia is working from the bottom.
Thornton scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Thornton passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Thornton creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Thornton working the body and head with strikes.
Thornton is looking to take a break and control but Maia is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Thornton throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Maia seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Thornton does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Thornton wants to control but Maia is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Thornton is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Maia is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Thornton is just riding it out for now. Maia eventually gives up the hold.
Thornton tries to roll over but Maia keeps him under control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thornton on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Thornton dominated that round.
That's time! Maia's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Thornton keeps the fight on the outside.
A shot to the body from Thornton misses
and Maia counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Maia tries for a takedown but Thornton circles away easily

and Thornton decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Maia's guard.
Thornton postures up.
Thornton trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Maia looking for a guillotine here but Thornton defends easily.
Thornton passes Maia's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Thornton trying to control the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thornton works his way into side control.
You can see the frustration on Maia's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Maia gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Maia wants to improve his position but Thornton is controlling well.

Maia looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thornton landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Thornton is keen to just control but Maia is a slippery customer.

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.
Maia is trying to maintain the position but Thornton is very close to passing his half guard.
Thornton wants to pass to mount but Maia is defending the position.
Thornton scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Thornton lands strikes from half guard.
Matt Thornton has got the better of the ground game so far.
Thornton looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Maia is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Maia is refusing to be controlled, as Thornton sits in half guard.
Thornton working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Maia's thigh. Maia counters though and makes it back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Thornton wants to pass the guard but Maia is keeping the position.
Thornton throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Maia works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Thornton landing with the ground and pound.
Thornton looking to pass the guard.

Maia pushes a forearm under Thornton's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Thornton is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:01 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Demian Maia!