PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mike Ekim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marduk Thorn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thorn has chosen Rob Dougan - Clubbed to Death as his entrance music. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Ekim
vs
Thorn

175 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
20
150 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mike Ekim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marduk Thorn!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Mauricio Rocha and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ekim looks to clinch
and Thorn counters with a nice low kick that buckles Ekim's knee momentarily.
Ekim fails with a takedown attempt.
Thorn misses with a hook.

Thorn has managed to clinch.
Ekim blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Thorn throws an elbow but it's blocked.
A body shot lands from Thorn.
Ekim tries to score a body lock takedown but Thorn shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Thorn scores a nice knee to the body.
Thorn is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ekim is defending well for now.
Thorn is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Thorn working Ekim over with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thorn works on Ekim's body with a couple of short punches.
Thorn working Ekim over with knees to the body.
Ekim tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Ekim. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thorn scores with a knee to the head.
Thorn unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ekim lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Ekim is breathing heavily.
Thorn lands a body punch in the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Thorn breaks from the clinch.
Thorn feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Ekim's calf.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Thorn holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Thorn is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knees to the body from Thorn.

Thorn manages to break the clinch.
Thorn throws a head kick that misses.
Thorn fails to land with a series of punches.
Marduk Thorn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Thorn has taken the fight to the clinch.
Thorn connects with a nasty looking knee right to Ekim's face.

It looks like Mike Ekim has been cut.
Knees to the body from Thorn.
Thorn unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ekim lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Thorn crunches a lovely knee into Ekim's ribcage.

Thorn breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thorn pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thorn throws a nice outside leg kick.
Thorn throws a body kick that misses.

Thorn clinches up with Ekim and pushes him back against the cage.
Thorn cracks Ekim with a nice body shot.
Ekim takes a knee right on the jaw!

Thorn breaks the clinch.
Ekim on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Thorn looks to land a combination but Ekim avoids it well.
Thorn ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
A solid leg kick lands there for Thorn.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Thorn fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ekim, pushing him back against the cage.
Thorn lands a knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thorn unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ekim lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Thorn escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Thorn closes the distance and pushes Ekim back into the cage.
A shot in the inside from Thorn.
Thorn connects with a nasty looking knee right to Ekim's face.

Ekim is rocked!
Thorn taking a breather.
Oh Ekim is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Knees to the body from Thorn.

Thorn escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ekim seems to have got his legs back now.
Thorn pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Thorn takes a swing at Ekim's ribcage but misses.
Thorn pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Ekim moves out of range as Thorn throws a body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marduk Thorn dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mike Ekim's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Thorn misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ekim.
Ekim misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ekim moves out of range of the body kick.
Thorn misses with an attempted mid kick.
Thorn lands an overhand right.
Thorn throws a nice looking combination but Ekim bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Thorn tries a head kick but it misses.
Ekim looks for a takedown but Thorn sprawls well.
Thorn throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ekim moves out of range of the body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thorn has taken the fight to the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Thorn - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Ekim tries for a takedown but Thorn manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Ekim. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thorn lands a body punch in the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thorn landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Thorn just leaning against Ekim, taking a breather.

Thorn breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ekim takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ekim steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Thorn. That one must have hurt.
Thorn pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Thorn lands a jab followed by a vicious hook that sends Ekim sprawling to the canvas. Thorn follows him down, looking for the kill. Can Ekim hang on?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Thorn thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ekim's head.
Thorn throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Thorn is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ekim doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Thorn.
Thorn content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Thorn throwing shots but Ekim is blocking nicely.
Ekim tries to roll over but Thorn keeps him under control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thorn throwing shots but Ekim is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marduk Thorn showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mike Ekim's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Thorn throws a body punch but Ekim moves out of range.

Thorn moves into range and clinches up with Ekim.
Thorn crunches a lovely knee into Ekim's ribcage.
Thorn landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Thorn softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Thorn unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ekim lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Thorn scores a nice knee to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Thorn breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Thorn moves into the clinch.
Thorn holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Good body shot from Thorn.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thorn putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Ekim in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thorn is working Ekim over against the cage.

Thorn manages to break the clinch.
Thorn looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Thorn pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Thorn fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Ekim looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Thorn pushes Ekim up against the cage in a clinch.
Marduk Thorn seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A right hook to the body lands for Thorn.

Thorn breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thorn ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ekim moves away.

Thorn rushes Ekim and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thorn landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ekim takes a knee to the side of the body.
Thorn scores with a hook to the body.
Thorn unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ekim lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Thorn landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Thorn unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Thorn landing knees to the body.
With the fighters up against the cage, Thorn throws an elbow but misses.
Nice body punch from Thorn - that landed with a thud.
Still in the clinch, Thorn scores with a nice short uppercut.
Thorn crunches a lovely knee into Ekim's ribcage.
Thorn scores with a knee to the head.

Thorn breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thorn scores with a kick to the body.
Thorn throws a head kick that half lands.
Thorn connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Ekim takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Thorn scores with a kick to the body.
Thorn cracks Ekim with a hook to the temple - Ekim is on wobbly legs here! Thorn swarms him with hook after hook, landing with each one! Ekim falls to the canvas face first and the referee dives in to stop the fight! Thorn wins by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Marduk Thorn!
Marduk Thorn decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.