PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dorsey Thornton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jose Maia will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Thornton
vs
Maia

153 cm
18
193 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

185 cm
25
196 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dorsey Thornton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jose Maia!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Radbod Blank and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thornton tries to keep at a distance but Maia has taken the fight into the clinch.

Thornton pulls guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thornton pulls Maia in close to his closed guard and prevents Maia from doing any damage or advancing position.

Thornton is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Maia trying to control the position from guard on top but Thornton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thornton managing to control the position.
Thornton keeping moving, preventing Maia from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maia controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia won't allow Thornton to sweep him here.
Thornton is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Maia looks to throw a body kick

and Thornton counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Maia manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Maia throws a body shot but no joy.
Thornton avoids the head kick by Maia.
Thornton drops down looking for a counter takedown but Maia sprawls and moves away.
Maia tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Maia moves into the clinch.

Thornton manages to pull 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!
Maia looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Maia tries to free his leg and advance position but Thornton is retaining full guard.
Maia passes Thornton's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Thornton looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia is thwarting Thornton's attempts to control the position.
Thornton really is a fat lump.
Maia is controlling the pace.
Maia trying to pass the guard but Thornton defending well.
Thornton trying to control from the bottom.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Maia lands a nice short elbow.

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.

Thornton looking for submissions off his back.
Thornton might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Thornton wants to control but Maia is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Maia wants to control but Thornton is keeping him busy.
Maia with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Maia throws a head kick but Thornton moves out of range.
Thornton tries to counter with a takedown but Maia is quick to defend against it.

Maia moves into the clinch successfully.
Maia is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Maia has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Thornton is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
The referee calls for Maia to work.
Maia tries for a takedown. No joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Maia dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Thornton uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Maia.
Thornton tries to counter with a takedown but Maia is quick to defend against it.
Maia swinging wildly here.

Thornton gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Thornton is fighting off a takedown attempt but Maia is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Thornton to the mat. Thornton regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Thornton seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Thornton is trying to keep Maia in close.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maia trying to control the position from guard on top but Thornton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thornton knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Maia on the ground.
Maia postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thornton keeping moving, preventing Maia from controlling successfully.
Maia looking to pass the guard.
Maia throwing strikes from guard but Thornton blocks nicely.
Jose Maia has got the better of the ground game so far.
Maia trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Maia being controlled here momentarily.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Maia throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Thornton attempts a counter takedown but Maia avoids it well and moves away.
Dorsey Thornton is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Maia throws a left and a right that both miss
and Thornton counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
The fighters circle momentarily. Maia darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Maia.
Thornton changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Danga de danga de dang - Maia scores with a four punch combination!

It looks like Dorsey Thornton has been cut.
Maia moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Maia misses with a few strikes there.
Thornton seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Maia will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Thornton instigates a clinch.

Maia pulls Thornton into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia working a defensive guard here.
Thornton has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Thornton postures up in Maia's guard and throws a big left but Maia blocks it.

Maia is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Thornton is aware though and is defending well.
Thornton stopping the sweep attempt from Maia.

Maia escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Thornton gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Maia is breathing heavily.

Maia escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Thornton gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Maia wants to control the position but Thornton says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia manages to get to full guard.
Maia is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Maia is working an open guard so Thornton takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Maia scores with a jab to the jaw.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Thornton fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Maia sprawls well initially but Thornton persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Maia is trying to maintain the position but Thornton is very close to passing his half guard.

Maia looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Maia showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Dorsey Thornton's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Maia darts in and clinches Thornton up against the cage.

Thornton jumps into guard, dragging Maia to the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Maia accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Maia passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Maia tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Thornton regains half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maia takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Thornton trying to hold on to Maia's head to control him but Maia postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Maia wants to free his trapped foot but Thornton is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Thornton moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Thornton avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Maia is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Maia trying to control the position from guard on top but Thornton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thornton is looking to stand up but Maia isn't so interested in that idea.
Maia has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two 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.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Thornton holds on and takes a little breather.
Maia looking to pass the guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Maia looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A lazy left from Maia finds it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thornton tries to keep at a distance but Maia has taken the fight into the clinch.
Thornton with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Maia holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Maia looking for a takedown.

Maia jumps guard and drags Thornton to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Maia trying to control the position.

Maia has his foot on Thornton's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Thornton works his way back into a safe position though.
Thornton with a flurry of punches that miss.

Maia has his foot on Thornton's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Thornton works his way back into a safe position though.
Maia takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia looking to control.
Maia manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Thornton manages to get himself to full guard.

Maia being controlled here momentarily.
Maia wants to control from the top but Thornton keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thornton lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Dorsey Thornton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jose Maia is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Thornton postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jose Maia comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Maia has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jose Maia!