PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sten Persson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andre Thornton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sten Persson has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Persson
vs
Thornton

200 cm
20
250 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

190 cm
19
262 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sten Persson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Andre Thornton!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Persson is looking to clinch.
Persson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Thornton's waist but Thornton gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Persson off to one side.
Andre Thornton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Persson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Thornton.
Jab from Thornton.
Thornton throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Thornton tries to close the distance and clinch but Persson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Persson moves into range and clinches up with Thornton.
Persson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Thornton smiles and moves away.
Nice sprawl there from Persson as Thornton shoots in.
Thornton throws a hook but Persson avoids it easily.
Thornton with a jab.
Thornton throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Persson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Thornton is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Persson.
Thornton looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Persson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sten Persson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thornton misses with a straight right.
Persson fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Persson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Thornton as he avoids it easily.
Persson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Persson shoots in for a takedown but Thornton shows good takedown defense.
Persson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Thornton.

Persson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Persson trying to control from half guard but Thornton is working away.
Persson looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Persson is looking for a kimura here.
Persson is breathing heavily.
Thornton is trying to stand.
Persson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thornton controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Persson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Thornton defending well though.
Persson throwing shots but Thornton is blocking nicely.
Thornton should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Persson is pressing down on Thornton's thigh, looking to free his foot. Thornton is holding on for now.
Persson prevents Thornton from standing back up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Thornton fails with an attempt to clinch.
Persson keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Persson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Thornton.
Thornton misses with a takedown

and Persson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Persson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Persson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Thornton preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Persson wants to pass the guard but Thornton is keeping the position.
Thornton preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Persson trying to control but Thornton is working from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

Persson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Persson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant 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.
Persson tries to free his leg and advance position but Thornton is retaining full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A big left from Thornton misses.
Thornton doesn't manage to clinch there - Persson circles away.
Thornton throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
A big right from Thornton misses.
Thornton might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Persson moves away from the strike by Thornton.
Thornton tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Persson counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thornton scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Thornton throws a hook but Persson blocks it.
Good shot there by Thornton.
Persson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sten Persson will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Thornton throws a series of strikes that have Persson backpedaling.
Thornton misses with the combination.

Persson shoots in and bounces Thornton off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Persson postures up in Thornton's guard and throws a big left but Thornton blocks it.
Persson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
What's Thornton going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Persson is looking to take a break and control but Thornton is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Persson is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Thornton has escaped the position, nice work there.
Thornton avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Persson.

Persson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Thornton is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Persson working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Persson sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Thornton is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Persson lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Thornton really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Persson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Persson stands up and beckons Thornton to his feet.

Thornton moves into range and clinches up with Persson.

Persson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thornton shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Persson as he jumps to the side.
Persson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Thornton.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thornton tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Persson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Thornton dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Thornton tries to close the distance and clinch but Persson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Persson slips a jab and a cross from Thornton.
Thornton throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thornton throws a right hand that Persson ducks under and follows up with a left that Persson also avoids with ease.
Persson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Persson shoots in and drives through. Thornton sprawls well.
Thornton darts in trying to clinch

and Persson counters with a shoot takedown. Thornton fights it but they end up in guard.
Persson postures up.
Persson passes into half guard.
Thornton tries to kick Persson off but Persson keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Sten Persson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Persson wants to work for an arm triangle but Thornton is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

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

Persson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Thornton defends it well.
Persson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Thornton's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sten Persson dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Thornton misses with a takedown

and Persson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Thornton's guard.
Persson thows a big elbow that misses.
Thornton utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Persson slips nicely into half guard.
Thornton tries to roll over but Persson keeps him under control.
Persson looks to land a strike but Thornton avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thornton keeping moving, preventing Persson from controlling successfully.
Persson preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Persson trying to control but Thornton is working from the bottom.
Thornton looking for a sweep. Not yet Thornton, not yet.
Persson slips nicely into half guard.
Persson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Thornton defending well though.
Thornton blocking the ground and pound attempt from Persson.
Persson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Thornton can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Persson working Thornton over with strikes.
Persson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Persson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Thornton with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Thornton is trying to stand back up but Persson is controlling him
Persson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Persson wants to take a breather but Thornton is having none of it.
Persson thows a huge punch but Thornton dodges it nicely.
Persson trying to control the pace.
Andre Thornton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Persson slips a nice elbow through Thornton's hands, connecting with Thornton's forehead.
Sten Persson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Persson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Persson is controlling the pace.
Thornton is looking to regain full guard. Not this time 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.
Thornton misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Persson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Persson looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sten Persson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Persson, 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sten Persson!